a 


BX  6495  .S43  A3  1863 
Seger,  John,  1786-1870. 
Narrative  of  the  life  and 
ministry  of  Rev.  John  Segei? 


^  OCT  19  1954  _^ 

NARRATiyE%06,cALSi«^^^ 


LIFE    AND    MINISTKY 

OF 

EEY.  JOHN  SEGEE, 

Former  Pastor  of  the  Baptist  Ckch  at  Hightstom  N.  J. 
WKITTEN  BY  HIMSELF. 

TO  WHICH  ABE  ADDED 

A  FEW  WORDS  OF  COMFORT,  EXHORTATION,  AND  COUNSEL, 

TO  VARIOUS  CLASSES  OF  READERS. 


HOLMAN,  BOOK  AND  JOB  PRINTER,  CORNER  OF  CENTRE  AND  WHITE  SIS. 
1863. 


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CONTENTS 


Introductory 5 

CHAPTER  I. 

My  Parentage  and  Early  Convictions 9 

CHAPTER  11. 
My  Conversion 20 

CHAPTER  m. 
My  Union  with  the  Church  and  Call  to  the  Ministry  . .     36 

CHAPTER  lY. 

YisiT  to  Pittsburgh  and  vicinity — Settlement  and  La- 
bors with  the  HiffflTSTOwN  Baptist  Church — Won- 
derful Escape 58 

CHAPTER  Y. 

Labors  at  Jamaica,   Lambertsville,  and   elsewhere — 

Close  of  the  Narrative 80 

CHAPTER  YL 
Words  op  Comfort  for  the  Afflicted 94 


IV  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  YII. 

To    Professing    Christians — Importance    of    Personal 

Piety 125 

CHAPTER  YHI. 
Importance  of  a  Holy  Life 143 

CHAPTER  IX. 
To  THE  Unconverted 153 

CHAPTER  X. 

A  Word  to  Parents — Religious  Instruction  of  Children  174 

CHAPTER  XL 
A  Closing  Word  to  my  Ministering  Brethren 189 


INTRODUCTORY. 


I  HAVE  been  induced  to  write  the  following  Narra- 
tive, by  the  solicitation  of  my  highly  respected  Brother, 
the  Rev.  Lewis  Smith,  Pastor  of  the  Baptist  Church  at 
Hightstown,  New  Jersey,  of  which  I  was  a  former 
pastor  for  the  term  of  eighteen  years.  Prior  to  this, 
the  thought  had  never  presented  itself  to  my  mind 
that  it  would  be  a  matter  of  sufficient  importance  to 
claim  my  attention,  or  to  be  interesting  to  others.  A 
more  mature  reflection,  however,  while  reviewing  the 
wonderful  display  of  divine  grace  in  the  salvation  of 
such  a  lost  and  guilty^inner  as  I  found  myself  to  be, 
when  God  began  the  work  of  grace  in  my  soul  by  his 
Holy  Spirit,  has  awakened  within  me  a  renewed  admi- 
ration of  the  love  and  suffering  of  my  blessed  Savior, 
who  gave  himself  a  ransom  for  me.  Such  reflections 
as  these,  I  found  to  be  well  calculated  to  remove 
any  hesitancy  that  may  have  remained  upon  my  mind  ; 
indeed,   I   at  once   discovered  that  no  subject  could 

furnish   me   with   a   more   delightful   theme  to  dwell 

1- 


VI  INTRODUCTORY. 

upon.  But  on  the  other  hand,  a  feeling  of  such  a  deep 
sense  of  so  much  imperfection  as  has  been  mingled 
with  my  best  perf(5rmance  in  religious  duty,  has  had  a 
tendency  to  cast  a  gloom  upon  my  mind,  and  a  shade 
over  my  whole  life. 

However,  it  is  with  a  considerable  degree  of  satis- 
faction that  I  can  say  I  am  not  conscious  of  having 
violated  what  the  world  terms  strict  moral  principles. 
But,  alas,  how  far  short  this  comes  from  that  perfect 
holiness  and  rectitude  which  my  God  requires,  and 
that  which  my  soul  thirsts  after.  There  is  nothing 
that  can  so  enlighten  the  mind  as  a  knowledge  of  the 
Deity,  hence  says  Job,  "I  have  heard  of  thee  by  the 
hearing  of  the  ear,  but  now  mine  eyes  seeth  thee, 
wherefore,  I  abhor  myself  and  repent  in  dust  and  ash- 
es." The  more  our  knowledge  increases  in  relation  to 
the  divine  character,  in  the  perfections  of  his  holiness, 
so,  in  proportion,  will  be  our  knowledge  of  our  own 
imperfections.  This  is  what  caused  Paul  to  cry  out 
"oh  wretched  man  that  I  am!  who  shall  deliver  me 
from  the  body  of  this  death  V^  He  refers  us  to  Christ  as 
his  only  hope.  Our  salvation  is  all  of  free  sovereign 
grace  from  first  to  last ;  *'  not  by  works  of  righteous- 
ness which  we  have  done,  but  according  to  his  mercy 
he  hath  saved  us  by  the  washing  of  regeneration,  and 
renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost."  So  that,  if  I  ever  get  to 
heaven,  it  will  be  through  Christ,  my  blessed  Lord,  and 


INTRODUCTORY.  Vli 

the  renewing  power  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  by  whom  I 
wish  to  be  guided  wliile  writing  this  narrative,  in 
which  I  shall  attempt  to  na^rrate  some  of  the  most  im- 
portant events  that  have  occurred  during  my  life  of 
seventy-seven  years,  which  has  brought  me  almost  to 
the  end  of  my  journey,  this  side  the  grave.  Of  this  I 
am  repeatedly  reminded  by  the  infirmities  of  decaying 
nature. 

Whether  this  narrative  may  die  with  me,  or  not,  I 
can  not  say  ;  but  should  it  live  and  speak  while  this 
poor  withered  body  shall  lie  mouldering  in  the  grave, 
may  it  speak  the  truth  and  God  be  glorified.  The 
plain  garb  in  which  it  is  clothed,  will  not  be  likely  to 
recommend  it  to  the  attention  of  those  who  are  walk- 
ing in  the  high  path  of  life,  such  as  the  great  and  noble 
of  the  earth,  or  secure  it  a  place  in  their  palaces,  yet  it 
may  find  a  lodging  among  the  followers  of  the  meek 
and  lowly  Jesus ;  and  what  should  I  wish  for  more  ? 
for  they  are  my  brethren  and  companions  in  the  Lord  ; 
they  are  the  excellent  of  the  earth,  whom  I  expect  to 
meet  in  heaven,  and  with  whom  I  expect  to  unite  in 
the  song  of  redeemihg  love,  for  ever  and  ever. 

Having  concluded  my  introductory  remarks,  I  shall 
now  enter  upon  my  proposed  narrative  ;  and  in  order 
to  make  it  more  agreeable  to  the  reader  I  have  con- 
cluded to  divide  it  into  chapters,  and  should  it  ever 
come  to  the  light  of  da^-,  so  as  to  meet  the  eye  of  any 


vm  INTRODUCTORY. 

one  who  may  be  disposed  to  read  it,  may  the  blessing 
of  God  attend  it,  to  the  good  of  the  reader,  and  God 
shall  have  the  glory  !  Should  imperfections  be  found 
in  this  little  book,  as  doubtless  there  will,  it  will  be 
sufficient  to  claim  the  indulgence  of  the  reader  to  say 
that  it  was  written  in  the  seventy-eighth  year  of  my 


CHAPTER  I. 

MY  PARENTAGE  AND  EARLY  CONVICTIONS. 

I  WAS  born  in  the  city  of  New  York,  on  the 
fourteenth  day  of  February,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord  seventeen  hundred  and  eighty-six,  three 
years  before  Washington  was  elected  President 
of  the  United  States.  My  Grandfather  Seger 
was  engaged  in  a  very  extensive  branch  of 
business,  the  manufacturing  of  ship  anchors, 
which  gave  employment  for  a  large  number 
of  hands.  He  was  a  business  man,. but  did  not 
concern  himself  much  about  matters  of  relig- 
ion. My  Grandmother  Seger  was  a  very  pious 
and  devout  Christian  and  a  member  of  the 
First  Baptist  Church  under  the  pastoral  charge 
of  Rev.  John  Gano. 

My  Grandfather  and  Grandmother  Thomp- 
son, together  with  my  mother,  were  members 
of  the  same  church  (he  being  deacon).  He 
was  a  very  pious  man,  and  made  himself  use- 


10   PARENTAGE  AND  EARLY  CONVICTIONS. 

ful  in  the  cause  of  Christ.  He  was  engaged 
in  a  very  lucrative  business,  he  being  owner 
of  what  was  then  ten.  id  the  tea- water  pump, 
which  suppHed  the  cit}  with  water  for  cook- 
ing and  drinking  purposes,  it  being  conveyed 
in  hogsheads  on  carts.  This  operation  gave 
emj)loyment  for  a  great  number  of  hands. 
My  father  was  not  a  professor  of  rehgion,  but 
was  considered  a  pious  man.  His  married  Hfe 
was  very  brief,  for  he  was  seized  with  that 
hopeless  malady,  the  consumption,  which 
terminated  his  life  at  the  age  of  twenty- eight 
years ;  leaving  my  mother  with  three  small 
children,  the  youngest  being  but  eighteen 
months  old,  who  soon  followed  his  father  in 
the  sleep  of  death. 

After  my  father's  death,  my  mother  re- 
turned to  her  father's  house,  where  she  and 
her  children  were  made  comfortable.  When 
I  was  about  seven  years  old,  my  Grandfather 
Seger  died.  After  his  death  an  old  friend  of 
his,  who  was  somewhat  wealthy,  and  was  the 
owner  of  a  large  farm,  three  miles  from  Peeks- 


PARENTAGE  AND  EARLY  CONVICTIONS.    11 

kill,  in  the  State  of  New  York,  offered  my 
mother  a  home  in  his  family,  both  for  herself 
and  her  children  as  Ion  -as  she  might  be  dis- 
posed to  stay.  She,  concluding  that  a  comitry 
life  would  be  more  agreeable,  at  once  accepted 
of  his  generous  offer,  and  soon  found  herself 
and  children  delightfully  situated  in  a  family 
of  old  acquaintances.  After  having  lived  hap- 
pily with  this  family  about  two  years,  her 
father  having  deceased,  and  she  having  come 
into  possession  of  her  share  of  his  estate,  a  door 
opened  for  her  to  resume  housekeeping.  At 
this  time  a  favorable  opportunity  offered  for 
her  to  remove  to  a  neighborhood  near  which 
the  Baptist  meeting  was  held.  This  removal 
placed  her  a  near  neighbor  to  a  deacon  of  the 
church,  whose  family  consisted  of  himself,  wife, 
and  three  children,  two  sons  and  a  daughter 
(the  oldest  son  being  clerk  of  the  Church). 
This  family  soon  became  much  attached  to  my 
mother,  as  she  was  a  pious  woman.  After 
some  time  had  elapsed,  the  oldest  son^  who 
was  a  bachelor  and  about  my  mother's  age, 


12       PARENTAGE  AND  EARLY  CONVICTIONS. 

offered  her  his  hand  in  wedlock,  which  in  due 
time  was  accepted.  A  short  time  subsequent 
to  this  union,  we  moved  on  a  farm  belonging 
to  his  father,  about  three  miles  distant.  This 
arrangement  rendered  his  father's  help  consid- 
erably less,  leaving  him  with  a  large  farm  to 
cultivate,  with  only  the  help  of  a  son  twenty 
years  old,  and  a  daughter  eighteen.  However, 
no  other  arrangement  could  be  made. 

After  we  had  been  settled  at  our  new  home 
a  few  months  I  had  a  very  singular  dream,  in 
which  I  saw  the  old  serpent,  the  devil,  who  I 
thought  had  come  after  me  while  I  was  lying 
on  my  bed.  He  appeared  in  the  most  fright- 
ful form,  so  much  so  that  I  was  made  to  shud- 
der with  fright,  and  sprang  from  my  bed  upon 
my  feet.  As  soon  as  he  saw  this  he  disap- 
peared. But  on  my  return  to  my  bed  Jie 
appeared  again  in  the  same  frightful  form. 
This  was  repeated  during  the  whol©  night. 
This  dream  made  a  very  serious  impression 
upon  iny  mind,  and  led  me  to  pray  fervently 
that  the  Lord  would  have  mercy  upon  me.     I 


PARENTAGE  AND  EARLY  CONVICTIONS.        13 

had  heard  much  of  Christ,  but  still  I  had  no 
consistent  views  of  salvation  through  his  death. 
I  thought  that  it  was  by  reforming  my  life, 
that  I  was  to  make  amends  for  my  past  sins. 
This  led  me  to  enter  into  solemn  covenant 
with  the  Lord,  that  if  he  would  forgive  me  I 
would  reform  my  life,  and  devote  the  remain- 
der of  my  days  to  his  service.  I  commenced 
with  a  full  determination  to  live  a  holy  life  ;  I 
laid  a  restraint  upon  my  words  and  actions  ; 
I  was  careful  to  watch  over  them  in  order 
that  I  might  bring  them  into  subjection  to  the 
rule  which  I  had  formed  to  determine  my 
duty  to  God  ;  I  denied  myself  of  all  my  boyish 
amusements  ;  and  thus  I  set  sail,  as  I  thought, 
with  a  fair  prospect  of  a  successful  voyage  to 
the  heavenly  glory.  But  I  soon  found  that 
the  wind  of  temptation,  and  current  of  my  de- 
praved inclinations,  was  too  powerful  for  me 
to  withstand  ;  for  every  tack  I  made,  I  found 
that  I  was  losing  ground ;  and  soon  found  my- 
self back  near  the  port  from  whence  I  set  sail. 
Thus  my  convictions  passed  gradually  away, 


14   PARENTAGE  AND  EARLY  CONVICTIONS. 

like  the  morning  cloud  and  early  dew.  How- 
ever, I  was  fiot  entirely  destitute  of  tender 
feelings,  for  I  remained  more  or  less  thought- 
ful about  my  soul. 

The  second  year  of  our  occupancy  of  the 
farm  on  which  we  lived,  some  considerable 
change  had  taken  place  in  the  family  of  my 
step-father  ;  his  sister  had  died,  and  his  broth- 
er had  received  and  accepted  a  very  advanta- 
geous offer  in  the  city  of  New  York  ;  so  that 
now  his  father  was  deprived  of  all  his  help, 
and  he  and  his  wife  considerably  advanced  in 
life,  with  the  care  of  a  large  farm.  The  family 
finally  made  an  arrangement  for  us  to  make 
an  exchange  with  the  old  people,  as  our  farm 
was  much  smaller  than  the  one  on  which  they 
lived.  This  exchange  was  brought  about  to 
the  satisfaction  of  the  parties  therein  con- 
cerned. 

Soon   after   our   removal,    I   had    another 
dream,   in  which  I  saw  that  the  end  of  thcv 
world  had  come  ;  I  saw  the  fire  approaching 
with  great  rapidity,  and  at  the  same  time  I 


PARENTAGE  AND  EARLY  CONVICTIONS.       15 

saw  a  multitude  of  people  lying  on  the  ground 
in  a  sound  sleep  ;  I  felt  deeply  concerned  for 
them,  and  ran  in  great  haste  from  one  to  the 
other,  shaking  them  with  all  my  might,  but 
could  not  awaken  them  ;  my  distress  was  so 
great  that  I  awoke  from  my  sleep.  This 
dream  has  furnished  me  with  a  very  striking 
representation  of  many  of  those  who  have  at- 
tended my  ministry,  for  while  I  have  been 
warning  them  of  their  danger,  that  they  might 
flee  from  the  wrath  to  come,  they  have  re- 
mained insensible  and  unconcerned  about  their 
future  destiny.  Alas,  how  often  I  have  had 
to  exclaim  in  the  language  of  the  Prophet, 
''  who  hath  believed  our  report  ?  and  to  whom 
is  the  arm  of  the  Lord  revealed  ?'' 

A  few  nights  after  this,  I  had  another 
dream,  in  which  I  saw  that  the  Savior  was  to 
be  crucified  again  ;  I  thought  that  I  loved  him 
above  all  beings  ;  I  sought  help  to  prevent  the 
deed,  but  help  could  not  be  found  ;  no  one 
regarded  my  pleading,  but  all  seemed  disposed 
to  help  on  with  the  tragedy.     Finally,  finding 


1  6   PARENTAGE  AND  EARLY  CONVICTIONS. 

that  all  my  efforts  had  failed,  I  ran  and  clasped 
hhn  in  my  arms,  with  the  request  that  I  might 
die  with  him.  The  love  that  I  felt  to  the 
Savior,  as  expressed  in  my  dream,  I  never 
could  comprehend  until  I  found  the  Savior,  to 
the  great  joy  of  my  soul,  in  the  work  of  regen- 
eration. Sure  this  is  love  that  passes  all  un- 
derstanding, it  being  stronger  than  death. 
Alas,  how  often  I  have  seen  my  Savior  cruci- 
fied afresh  in  the  house  of  his  professed  friends  ! 
Oh,  my  blessed  Lord,  have  I  ever  had  a  hand 
in  such  a  wicked  and  disgraceful  act  ?  if  I  have, 
oh  forgive,  and  let  'me  never  prove  a  traitor 
to  thee  again !  These  dreams,  like  the  former, 
left  serious  impressions  resting  on  my  mind. 

At  about  this  time,  a  Methodist  preacher 
and  a  good  man,  opened  a  meeting  in  the 
school-house  a  mile  distant  from  where  we 
lived.  His  appointments  were  every  other 
Lord's  day  evening.  I  became  a  constant  at- 
tendant at  his  meeting,  and  soon  began  to 
conclude  that  I  was  a  Christian.  As  to  my 
outward  deportment,  nothing  could  be   said 


PARENTAGE  AND  EARLY  CONVICTIONS.       17 

against  it,  for  I  was  considered  strictly  moral. 
Indeed,  the  preacher  himself  came  to  this  con- 
clusion, and  I  soon  became  quite  a  favorite  of 
his,  and  as  I  was  a  good  singer,  he  solicited 
me  to  take  the  lead  in  this  part  of  the  devo- 
tional exercises.  This  led  on  to  the  improve- 
ment of  my  gift  in  prayer  and  exhortation  in 
public,  and  I  believe  these  performances 
were  highly  acceptable  both  to  the  preacher 
and  hearers,  and  myself  not  much  behind  in 
this  matter.  But  alas,  I  was  deceived,  and 
knew  it  not.  I  thought  that  I  had  arrived  al- 
most to  a  state  of  perfection.  But  all  this  was 
a  delusion.  The  preacher  was  so  well  pleased 
with  my  performance,  that  he  appointed  me 
to  conduct  a  meeting  on  a  vacant  Lord's  day 
evening,  at  which  time  I  had  a  large  attend- 
ance. Our  meetings  were  very  solemn,  and 
many  were  seen  to  shed  tears. 

On  one  occasion,  a  very  respectable  old 
gentleman  came  up  to  me  after  meeting,  with 
the  tears  gushing  from  his  eyes,  and  while 
grasping  my  hand  said    "I  am   ashamed  of 


18       PARENTAGE  AND  EARLY  CONVICTIONS. 

myself  that  I  have  lived  so  long  m  sin,  and 
you,  so  young,  engaged  in  religion."  But  oh 
how  unqualified  I  was  to  point  this  poor  aged 
sinner  to  the  Lamb  of  God,  whose  blood  alone 
can  cleanse  from  sin,  and  save  the  soul  from 
the  wrath  to  come !  Alas,  I  did  not  under- 
stand  the  religion  of  the  Bible.  And  yet, 
strange  as  it  may  seem,  I  thought  all  this 
time,  that  I  was  doing  God  service.  I  did 
not  intend  to  deceive  myself  or  others,  for  I 
thought  that  I  had  arrived  almost  to  a  state 
of  perfection,  and  what  the  old  man  had  said 
seemed  to  confirm  me  more  fully  in  this  be- 
lief. 0  how  the  mind  of  man  has  become 
blinded  by  the  god  of  this  world ! 

The  main  cause  of  my  gaining  such  a  con- 
trol over  the  minds  of  my  hearers,  must  be 
attributed  to  my  being  so  very  young,  being 
but  thirteen  years  old.  My  manner  was  very 
solemn,  and  the  people  had  full  confidence  in 
my  sincerity,  and  at  the  same  time  I  was 
very  zealous,  and  my  moral  deportment  was 
always  considered  very  correct.     I  continued 


PARENTAGE  AND  EARLY  CONVICTIONS.   19 

this  course  of  labor  with  great  dehght,  until  I 
was  fourteen  years  old,  at  which  date  a  cir- 
cumstance occurred  which  put  an  end  to  these 
exercises,  which  proved  a  great  cross  to  me, 
as  my  mind  was  completely  absorbed  in  these 
meetings ;  but  the  time  had  now  come  for  a 
separation  between  me  and  my  young  com- 
panions, which  led  to  a  great  change  in  the 
scenery  of  my  life,  as  may  be  seen  in  the 
following  chapter. 


CHAPTER  II. 


MY  CONVERSION. 


The  circumstances  which  led  to  the  change 
referred  to  in  the  latter  part  of  the  preceding 
chapter  were  as  follows  :  My  parents  came  to 
the  conclusion  that  it  would  be  to  my  advant- 
age to  learn  a  trade.  The  people,  at  that 
day,  were  much  more  in  favor  of  bringing 
up  their  children  to  labor  than  they  are  at  the 
present  day.  About  this  time  a  very  favor- 
able opportunity  offered,  as  will  appear  from 
what  follows. 

I  had  an  uncle  living  in  the  city  of  ^ew 
York,  who  had  recently  retired  from  business, 
having  amassed  a  considerable  fortune  by  the 
copper  and  brazier's  business,  and  had  trans- 
ferred the  whole  concern  into  the  hands  of  a 
young  man  who  had  learned  the  trade  with 
him,  and  had  married  my  mother's  youngest 
sister.     This    young   man   had   solicited   my 


MY  CONVERSION.  21 

parents  to  let  me  learn  the  trade  with  him. 
These  were  the  circumstances  which  led  to 
m}^  leaving  home,  and  returning  to  the  city 
that  gave  me  birth,  from  which  I  had  been 
absent  seven  years. 

I  now  entered  upon  my  apprenticeship 
with  my  uncle,  who  had  three  apprentices 
older  than  myself.  These  w^ere  the  persons 
into  whose  company  I  was  about  to  be  intro- 
duced as  my  future  companions ;  persons  al- 
together different  from  my  former  associates, 
for  although  they  professed  to  be  of  a  moral 
character,  yet  they  were  quite  loose  both  in 
their  words  and  actions  ;  for  they  were  in  the 
constant  habit  of  making  use  of  profane  lan- 
guage, while  their  general  deportment  was 
about  of  the  same  character.  From  these 
considerations  it  must  be  perceived,  that,  as 
to  my  future  prospects,  they  were  not  very 
hopeful,  but  would  rather  have  proved  ruin- 
ous to  my  soul  without  the  interposition  of 
the  kind  hand  of  Providence.  I  was  not 
aware  of  the  danger  to  which  I  was  exposed. 

2* 


22  MY  CONVERSION. 

I  was  now  deprived  of  parental  instruction 
and  of  those  social  meetings  in  which  I  was 
so  delighted,  while  every  avenue  of  my 
young  heart  was  open  to  those  foul  spirits 
who  are  ever  on  the  alert  to  allure,  by  their 
artful  deception. 

It  was  very  common  at  that  day  for  lads 
like  myself,  to  spend  the  Lord's  day  in  ram- 
bling out  of  town  for  a  little  recreation,  and 
sometimes  in  sailing  on  the  river.  This  last 
amusement  had  proved  fatal  to  many,  and 
had  well  nigh  proved  so  to  me,  for  I  had  fal- 
len in  with  these  habits  5  still  I  was  conscious 
that  this  was  wicked  and  did  not  comport 
with  my  views  of  religion.  Yet  the  tempta- 
tion proved  too  strong  for  me  to  withstand, 
and  I  had  to  yield.  But  upon  my  return 
home  at  night,  oh  the  lashing  of  conscience ! 
I  then  felt — ' '  a  guilty  conscience  who  can 
bear?"  I  would  then  renew  my  promises  and 
break  them  as  fast  as  I  made  them,  and  thus 
my  life  became  one  continued  scene  of  sinning 
and  repenting,  making  promises  and  breaking 


MY  CONVERSION.  23 

them.  Thus  three  years  of  my  time  passed 
away  m  one  continual  conflict.  I  had  lost  all 
relish  for  the  house  of  God,  as  I  was  not  ac- 
quainted with  any  of  the  young  people  who 
attended.  If  I  had  attended  meeting  once  on 
the  Lord's  day,  it  would  have  satisfied  my 
conscience  in  some  measure,  but  this  had 
become  too  irksome,  so  that  my  self-righteous 
garb  which  I  so  much  admired  before  I  left 
home,  had  now  become  ragged  and  in  tatters. 
I  tried  hard  to  patch  up  the  old  garment  ; 
but  in  spite  of  all  that  I  could  do,  ragged  it 
would  be. 

Thus  passed  away  three  years  of  my  ap- 
prenticeship, which  brings  me  to  a  more  inter- 
esting part  of  this  narrative  ;  for  the  time  had 
now  come  in  which  the  powers  of  darkness 
were  to  be  shaken,  and  made  to  yield  up 
their  vassal,  so  long  held  in  cruel  fetters  ;  for 
he  who  is  mighty  to  save,  said  '4et  the  cap- 
tive go  free  for  I  have  found  a  ransom  ;"  but 
a  dreadful  battle  was  to  be  fought  before  I 
could  be  set  at  liberty  ;  it  was  fought,  and  I 


24  MY  CONVERSION. 

gained  the  victory  through  the  blood  of  the 
Lamb.  The  circumstances  which  led  to  this 
great  conflict  were  as  follows  :  On  a  certain 
evening  my  aunt  with  whom  I  lived  had  oc- 
casion to  send  a  message  to  her  sister  living 
in  the  Bowery  about  a  mile  distant ;  it  being 
a  very  pleasant  evening's  walk,  I  at  once  of- 
fered my  services.  After  having  received  my 
instructions,  I  passed  out  of  the  front  door, 
where  I  found  the  elder  apprentice  standing, 
who,  on  my  approach,  gave  utterance  to  a 
most  profane  oath.  This  however  was  noth- 
ing strange,  as  it  was  a  very  common  thing 
with  him  to  make  use  of  profane  language. 
But  on  this  occasion  it  had  a  very  different 
effect  upon  my  mind,. from  what  it  ever  had 
produced  before.  I  was  at  once  struck  with 
the  greatest  horror  of  mind  at  such  wicked- 
ness, as  I  thought  that  he  had  defied  his 
Maker.  But,  oh,  the  disma}^  I  felt !  for  in  a 
moment  my  eyes  were  opened  to  see  the 
condemnation  resting  upon  my  own  soul,  for 
I  saw  my  sins  were  placed  in  array  against 


MY  CONVERSION.  25 

me ;  they  appeared  like  so  many  mountains 
ready  to  crush  me  down  under  their  ponder- 
ous weight;  my  heart  was  ready  to  break, 
while  the  tears  were  gushing  from  my  eyes  to 
that  degree,  that  I  believe  every  step  was 
marked  with  them  ;  such  was  the  anguish  of 
my  soul,  that  I  can  not  describe  it  or  ever 
forget.  Oh  how  plainly  I  saw  the  justice  of 
God  in  my  condemnation !  Oh  how  plainly 
I  saw  and  felt  the  force  of  the  language  of 
the  Poet— 

"And  if  my  soul  were  sent  to  hell, 
Thy  righteous  law  approves  it  well." 

I  had  such  a  view  of  the  character  of  God 
in  all  his  Divine  perfections,  that  I  thought  if 
he  should  place  me  in  the  lowest  hell  I  would 
there  praise  him  ;  for  I  saw  that  he  was  a 
being  worthy  to  be  loved  and  admired,  and 
all  the  wrong  was  in  me.  I  felt  so  guilty  and 
condemned,  that  I  dare  not  look  up.  I  could 
stand  like  the  publican  and  smite  upon  my 
breast,  but  dare  not  make  use  of  his  language, 
for  I  thought  that  mercy  was  clean  gone  for- 


26  MY  CONVERSION. 

ever,  and  tliat  I  had  placed  myself  beyond 
the  reach  of  hope.  I  saw  now  that  all  my 
prayers  and  exhortations  had  been  nothmg 
but  a  delusion ;  my  poor  wretched  heart  had 
deceived  me.  When  I  drew  near  the  house, 
I  stood  and  wiped  off  my  tears,  as  well  as  I 
could,  still  fearing  to  enter,  lest  they  should 
discover  the  state  of  my  mind.  My  tears 
flowed  so  freely  that  it  was  with  the  greatest 
difficulty  that  I  <30uld  suppress  them,  and  to 
tarry  any  longer  would  not  do,  as  I  had  been 
long  on  my  way.  I  saw  that  now  something 
must  be  done.  I  therefore  armed  myself 
with  all  the  courage  that  I  was  master  of,  and 
entered  the  house.  When  there,  I  could  not 
utter  a  word  ;  I  sat  down  ;  my  aunt,  who 
stood  near  the  fire-place,  gazed  at  me  w^ith 
much  surprise,  and  some  degree  of  alarm,  as 
I  was  commonly  very  cheerful.  After  look- 
ing at  me  for  a  moment,  she,  calling  me  by 
name,  said  "  what  are  you  troubled  about ;  is 
it  the  things  of  this  world,  or  that  which  is 
to  come  ?"    The  last  word  in  the  interropfation 


MY  CONVERSION.  27 

at  once  did  the  work.  A  shot  from  a  gun 
could  not  have  been  du^ected  with  greater  ac- 
curacy to  the  object  of  its  aim  ;  it  pierced  me 
to  the  heart.  The  tears  began  to  gush  from 
my  eyes  in  torrents  ;  for  I  felt  as  though  the 
very  fountain  of  my  soul  was  broken  up. 
My  aunt  soon  comprehended  the  nature  of 
my  distress,  and  called  in  my  uncle  who 
stood  at  the  back  door.  He,  being  a  pious 
man,  was  prepared  to  give  me  instruction,  for 
he  understood  my  feelings,  although  I  did  not 
utter  a  word.  He  sat  down  and  selected  a 
number  of  passages  from  the  Bible,  well 
suited  to  console  my  sorrowful  mind;  but 
this  proved  all  in  vain,  for  I  could  not  claim 
them ;  for  I  thought  that  I  had  committed  the 
sin  unto  death.  After  he  had  conversed  with 
me  awhile,  he  prayed  for  me,  but  all  without 
having  any  effect  in  consoling  my  mind. 
When  I  was  about  to  leave  he  handed  me  a 
little  book  by  John  Bunyan,  the  title  of 
which  was  ''Grace  abounding  to  the  chief  of 
sinners." 


28  MY  CONVERSION. 

On  my  way  home,  my  tears  flowed  freely, 
I  continuing  in  the  same  state  of  mind.  As 
I  drew  near  home,  a  difficulty  more  formi- 
dable than  the  one  I  had  already  encount- 
ered, attended  me  on  my  arrival.  I  well 
knew  what  I  had  to  expect  from  a  family  in 
which  not  one  pious  soul  could  be  found.  I 
had  nothing  to  look  for  but  sneers  and  ridi- 
cule, especially  from  the  young  men.  How- 
ever, I  wiped  off  my  tears  as  well  as  I  could, 
and  entered  the  house  and  delivered  my  mes- 
sage m  as  few  words  as  possible.  Yet  it  was 
not  done  without  betraying  my  feelings,  al- 
though no  remarks  were  made  ;  for  I  passed 
quickly  into  my  bed-room,  where  I  sat  down 
and  read  the  little  book  that  my  uncle  gave 
me,  in  which  I  found  my  feelings  so  fully  de- 
lineated that  it  became  difficult  for  me  to 
read,  as  my  tears  flowed  so  fast.  I  read  and 
wept  the  greater  part  of  the  night. 

The  next  morning  found  me  in  the  same 
sad  state  of  mind.  My  mind  seemed  to  be 
bordering  on  despair,  yet  I  strove  to  conceal 


MY  CONVERSION.  29 

it.  This  I  found  impossible,  for  I  could  not  so 
far  suppress  my  feelings,  as  not  to  be  visible 
in  my  countenance.  When  I  met  the  family 
at  the  breakfast  table,  they  discovered  that  a 
very  heavy  pressure  was  resting  upon  my 
mind.  This  was  visible,  not  only  in  my  sad 
countenance,  but  also  in  my  loss  of  appetite. 
They  knew  that  it  could  not  be  disease  of 
body,  for  if  so,  I  would  have  made  it  known. 
However,  they  soon  began  to  comprehend 
the  mystery.  This  at  once  subjected  me  to 
many  reproachful  epithets.  At  length  my 
burden  became  so  ponderous  that  I  became 
quite  indifferent  to  their  severity,  although 
they  persevered  so  far  as  to  signify  that  I 
had  communications  with  the  fiend  of  dark- 
ness. I  can  not  believe  that  they  thought  this 
to  be  really  the  case  ;  if  they  did,  they  must 
have  drawn  their  conclusion  from  my  having 
absented  myself  so  often  for  secret  prayer  ; 
for  I  could  not  stay  away.  On  one  occasion, 
my  uncle  accidentally  entered  the  apartment 
where  I  was  upon  my  knees  ;  we  were  both 


30  MY  CONVERSION. 

much  confused,  jet  nothing  was  said.  I 
think,  however,  that  it  must  have  had  a 
favorable  impression  upon  his  mind,  as 
he  was  particularly  kind  to  me  from  that 
time. 

After  these  young  men  had  done  all  in 
their  power  to  insult  my  feelings,  and  had  be- 
gun to  despair  of  reclaiming  me  by  such 
harsh  measures  as  they  had  resorted  to,  they 
now  begun  to  pursue  a  more  mild  course,  and 
to  expostulate  with  me,  in  order  to  convince 
me  of  the  danger  I  was  in,  by  giving  up  to 
such  a  gloomy  state  of  mind,  as  they  consid- 
ered it  sure  to  lead  on  to  insanity,  and  thus 
prove  my  ruin ;  and  in  order  to  prevent  this 
calamity,  it  would  be  advisable  for  me  to  ac- 
company them  to  those  places  of  amusement, 
the  theatre  and  ball-room.  These  arguments, 
however,  proved  unavailing,  for  I  felt  that  the 
wound  which  sin  had  made  in  my  heart  was 
too  deep  to  be  removed  by  any  earthly  reme- 
dy. ]N'othing  but  that  salve  which  was  ex- 
tracted from  the  blood  of  the  dying  Christ, 


MY  CONYERSION.  oi 

and  applied  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  could  ever 
cure  and  make  me  whole. 

I  spent  my  evenings  in  reading  and  pray- 
ing, while  my  tears  flowed  freely.  On  the 
ensuing  Lord's  day,  I  attended  the  preach- 
ing of  the  Rev.  John  Williams.  This  was 
done  in  accordance  with  the  wishes  of  my 
uncle  wdio  gave  me  the  little  book  to  which  I 
have  already  referred,  he  being  a  member  of 
Brother  Williams'  church.  I  took  my  seat  in 
the  gallery  opposite  the  pulpit.  The  sermon 
was  a  very  cutting  one  to  my  feelings,  for  I 
thought  that  every  word  was  intended  for 
me  ;  and  as  the  preacher's  eye  seemed  to  be 
placed  upon  me,  I  dared  not  look  up,  for  I 
thought  that  he  comprehended  the  whole  his- 
tory of  my  life.  My  feelings,  while  he  fully 
delineated  my  character,  he  placed  before  me 
in  such  clear  light,  as  can  not  be  described. 
I  returned  home  more  sorrowful  than  ever. 
Brother  Williams  was  a  faitliful  servant  of 
God  ;  I  spent  many  haj)py  hours  with  him  in 
his  study  after  I  had  found  peace  to  my  soul ; 


32  MY  CONVERSION. 

but  he  has  long  smce  gone  to  be  with  Christ, 
which  is  far  better. 

My  distress  continued  as  pungent  as  ever  ; 
for  about  ten  days  from  the  time  in  which  I 
was  awakened  to  a  sense  of  my  danger,  was 
spent  in  reading,  praying,  and  weeping.  Fi- 
nally the  day  of  my  deliverance  came,  and 
what  a  joyful  day  this  was  to  me  !  The  Son 
of  Righteousness  arose  upon  my  soul  with 
healing  under  his  wings.  The  darkness  of 
midnight  was  at  once  dispelled,  and  all  was 
light  around  me.  I  received  a  message  from 
him  who  spake  as  never  man  spake.  The 
message  may  be  found  recorded  in  Matthew 
V.  4,  "Blessed  are  they  that  mourn,  for  they 
shall  be  comforted.''  These  words  dropped 
from  the  precious  lips  of  my  blessed  Savior 
while  on  the  mount ;  and  although  multitudes 
have  been  sharing  in  the  blessings  of  this 
gracious  and  heart-cheering  promise,  yet  I 
found  it  as  full  of  consolation  as  when  the  first 
soul  participated  in  its  blessings.  This  prom- 
ise  seemed  to  come  down  from  the  upper 


MY  CONVERSION.  33 

glory,  and,  through  the  agency  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  to  be  applied  to  my  soul.  The  very 
foundation  of  my  prison  was  shaken,  my  fet- 
ters fell  off,  my  prison  doors  flew  open,  and  I 
was  brought  into  the  light  and  liberty  of  the 
Gospel.  Believing,  I  rejoiced  with  joy  un- 
speakable and  full  of  glory.  I  felt  as  though 
I  had  been  ushered  into  a  new  world  ;  every 
thing  in  nature  appeared  to  be  new  ;  I  saw 
my  Savior's  hand  in  every  thing  I  cast  my 
eyes  upon.  The  sun  seemed  to  shine  with 
greater  brilliancy  and  glory.  The  spangled 
heavens  at  night,  I  beheld  with  wonder  and 
admiration,  while  I  saw  in  every  star  a 
preacher  of  righteousness.  I  could  unite  in 
the  language  of  the  Psalmist  in  saying  ' '  The 
heavens  declare  the  glory  of  the  Lord  and  the 
firmament  showeth  forth  his  handy  work.*'  I 
saw  that  not  only  the  heavens  and  the  earth 
were  new  to  me,  but  I  was  new  to  myself, 
and  could  now  understand  what  Paul  meant 
when  he  said,   "If  any  man  be  in  Christ  he  is 


34  MY  CONVERSION. 

a  new  creature,  old  things  are  passed  away 
and  behold  all  have  become  new." 

I  now  felt  that  I  was  complete  in  Christ, 
not  having  on  my  own  righteousness  which  is 
of  the  law,  but  that  which  is  by  faith  in  my 
dying  Lord;  that  it  is  "not  by  works  of 
righteousness  that  we  have  done,  but  accord- 
ing to  his  mercy  he  hath  saved  us,  by  the 
washing  of  regeneration  and  renewing  of  the 
Holy  Grhost."  I  now  saw  the  way  of  salva- 
tion through  the  death  of  Christ  plainly  re- 
vealed in  the  Bible  ;  and  how  God  can 
be  just  and  yet  justify  sinners  and  save 
them  with  an  everlasting  salvation  ;  not  171 
their  sins  hut  from  their  sins,  by  the  blood  of 
Christ,  who  is  the  Lamb  slain  as  the  great 
antitype  of  the  sacrifices  made  under  the  law. 
Under  these  consoling  views,  I  now  went  on 
my  way  rejoicing. 

Before  I  conclude  this  chapter,  I  must  refer 
to  a  solemn  circumstance  which  occurred  dur- 
ing the   week  in  which  my  soul  was   set  at 


MY  CONVERSION.  35 

liberty,  in  relation  to  one  of  those  young  men 
who  had  been  so  active  in  devising  plans  to 
lead  my  soul  astray.  This  young  man  was 
seized  with  a  disease  which  soon  terminated 
his  life.  He  sickened  while  absent  from 
home.  He  heard  of  the  happy  state  of  my 
mind,  and  sent  for  me  to  come  and  pray  for 
him  ;  I  went,  but  it  was  too  late  ;  his  spirit 
was  making  its  way  to  the  invisible  world. 
Where  he  landed  we  must  leave  to  be  de- 
cided at  the  judgment  of  the  great  day. 


CHAPTER  III. 

MY  UNION  WITH  THE  CHURCH  AND  CALL  TO  THE 
MINISTRY. 

The  ensuing  Lord's  day,  I  attended  the 
preaching  of  the  Rev.  William  Collier,  Pastor 
of  the  First  Baptist  Church,  whose  meeting- 
house was  located  in  Gold  Street,  a  few  hund- 
red yards  distant  from  where  I  lived.  This 
brother  was  a  good  preacher  and  of  sterling 
piety,  but  of  delicate  health  and  feeble  voice. 
At  the  close  of  the  meeting,  I  heard  an- 
nounced the  time  and  place  of  the  weekly 
meeting,  which  was  held  on  Friday  evening. 
The  next  meeting  found  me  there.  In  the 
course  of  the  evening,  a  young  brother  was 
called  upon  to  pray.  He  was  the  youngest 
member  in  the  church,  being  nineteen  years 
old,  two  years  older  than  myself.  His  man- 
ner and  language,  throughout  his  prayer,  was 
so   expressive  of  true  devotion   and   sincere 


CALL  TO  THE  MINISTRY.  37 

piety,  that  my  affections  were  drawn  out  to 
him  to  that  degree,  that  he  appeared  nearer 
than  an  own  brother,  although  he  was  an  en- 
tire stranger  to  me.  On  his  return  home,  I 
followed  him  some  distance,  in  hope  that  an 
opportunity  might  offer  to  introduce  myself 
to  him ;  but  feeling  myself  so  far  inferior 
to  him  in  religious  experience,  my  courage 
failed,  and  I  returned  home  much  disap- 
pointed. However,  at  the  next  meeting,  I 
succeeded,  and  I  believe  to  the  mutual  joy 
and  satisfaction  of  both. 

From  that  time,  our  hearts  became  knit 
together  like  those  of  David  and  Jonathan. 
Our  leisure  hours  were  spent  almost  entirely 
in  each  other's  company,  at  which  times  we 
found  it  to  be  a  heaven  below.  My  becom- 
ing acquainted  with  this  brother,  opened  the 
way  for  offering  myself  as  a  member  of  the 
First  Baptist  Church,  although  I  felt  much 
attached  to  Brother  Wilhams.  However,  the 
distance  to  his  church  was  a  considerable  ob- 
jection, and  as  it  appeared  to  me  that  Provi- 

3 


38  UNION  WITH  THE  CHURCH  AND 

dence  had  marked  out  my  duty,  I  therefore 
offered  myself  to  the  church,  and  being  re- 
ceived, I  was  baptized  by  the  pastor,  in  the 
]N"orth  River,  on  the  first  Lord's  day  of  April, 
eighteen  hundred  and  three,  being  seventeen 
years  old  ;  and  on  the  same  day  I  was  re- 
ceived into  the  church,  and  took  my  seat  at 
the  table  of  the  Lord.  This  was  a  happy 
day  to  me. 

Soon  after  this,  I  was  called  upon  to  exer- 
cise my  gift  in  prayer  and  exhortation. 
About  this  time,  I  became  acquainted  with 
a  brother  whose  labors  were  wonderfully 
blessed.  He  held  his  meetings  not  far  from 
where  the  Macdougal  Street  meeting-house 
is  now  located,  and  I  believe  that  that 
church  owes  its  origin  to  this  brother's  la- 
bors. He  was  a  plain,  honest-hearted  man, 
and  although  he  could  not  lay  claim  to  be 
a  learned  or  methodical  preacher,  yet  he 
seemed  to  speak  with  demonstration  and 
power  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  was  greatly 
blessed   in    the    conversion   of   sinners,    and 


CALL  TO  THE  MINISTRY.  39 

was  the  means  of  increasing  the  num- 
ber of  members  in  the  First  Church  to  a 
great  extent,  and  long  after  his  death,  this 
church  were  receiving  the  fruits  of  his  la- 
bors. This  brother,  being  but  a  licentiate, 
had  no  church  of  his  own,  and  at  the  same 
time,  feeling  a  deep  interest  in  the  pros- 
perity of  the  First  Church,  appointed  his 
meetings  so  as  not  to  interfere  with  its 
pubhc  services.  I  attended  this  brother's 
preaching,  at  which  time  I  was  greatly  de- 
lighted, being  fed  with  the  sincere  milk  of 
the  word. 

About  the  year  1805,  the  Rev.  "William 
Parkinson,  who  had  taken  charge  of  the 
First  Church,  became  very  much  blessed  in 
his  labors,  and  a  great  revival  ensued  and 
a  large  number  of  souls  were  added  to 
the  church,  among  whom  were  many  of  the 
younger  class,  who  like  myself,  felt  zealous 
in  the  cause  of  Christ,  and  wishing  to  make 
ourselves  useful,  we  formed  a  youth's  prayer- 
meeting,    in  which   I  took   an   active   part, 


40  UNION  WITH  THE  CHURCH  AND 

and  was  looked  to  as  a  leader  of  the  meet- 
ing in  prayer  and  exhortation.  This  meet- 
ing opened  the  way  for  the  formation  of  a 
youth's  Missionary  Society,  of  which  I  was 
President  for  several  years. 

While  I  was  thus  engaged,  I  had  three 
singular  visions  of  the  night.  In  the  first, 
I  was  commanded  to  have  my  baptism  re- 
peated, and  have  on  the  Pastor's  gown,  in 
which  he  baptized  me,  which  was  of  a  broad, 
dark  and  white  stripe.  This  dream  may 
seem  trifling  to  some,  yet  it  has  had  good 
effect  upon  my  mind,  for  it  has  pictured  out 
before  me  the  different  scenes  of  my  life, 
which  have  been  mingled  with  joy  and  sor- 
row. Sometimes  I  could  express  myself  in 
the  language  of  the  Psalmist  ''Thou  hast 
made  my  mountain  to  stand  strong.  I  shall 
never  be  moved,"  and  at  other  times  I  have 
had  to  say,  "  Thou  didst  hide  thy  face  and 
T  was  troubled,  all  thy  waves  and  thy  bil- 
lows have  gone  over  me.''  The  next  night, 
I    dreamed   that   I   was   commanded   to   go 


CALL  TO  THE  MINISTRY.  41 

to  the  meeting-house  of  the  First  Church 
to  which  I  belonged,  and  preach  a  sermon. 
I  was  at  once  filled  with  the  greatest  con- 
sternation, and  was  so  much  troubled  that 
I  fell  to  weeping,  and  made  use  of  every 
argument  in  my  power  against  it,  and  that  I 
was  no  way  qualified  for  such  an  important 
work,  but  I  was  laid  hold  of  by  an  invisi- 
ble hand,  and  forced  on  my  way,  while  the 
tears  were  gushing  from  my  eyes.  When 
I  arrived  at  the  meeting-house  and  saw  the 
people  gathered,  my  distress  was  such  that 
I  was  led  to  cry  out  in  the  extremity  of 
my  soul,  ''Lord,  help,  for  I  can  not  preach," 
and  at  once  I  awoke,  much  pleased  to  find  it 
but  a  dream.  Oh,  how  often  I  have  realized 
the  force  of  what  I  felt  in  this  dream,  while 
reflecting  upon  the  importance  of  preach- 
ing to  dying  sinners  the  unsearchable  riches 
of  Christ !  Oh,  how  often  I  have  had  to  ex- 
claim, "Who  is  sufficient  for  these  things  ?" 
In  the  third  vision  I  saw  myself  clad  in 
the  most  beautiful  garment  that  I  had  ever 


42  UNION  WITH  THE  CHURCH  AND 

beheld,  it  was  of  a  pure  white.  While  I 
was  admiring  it,  I  awoke.  While  consid- 
ering this  vision,  the  thought  occurred  to 
my  mind,  might  not  this  robe  have  had  some 
reference  to  the  righteousness  of  Christ, 
that  spotless  robe  prepared  for  all  repent- 
ing prodigals  like  myself?  I  had  been 
stripped  of  my  filthy,  ragged  garment,  that 
I  had  been  so  long  laboring  to  patch  up, 
in  order  to  make  it  appear  somewhat  de- 
cent ;  but  I  found,  after  all  my  toil,  that 
it  grew  worse  and  worse,  until  I  was 
stripped  of  it,  and  clothed  with  the  justify- 
ing righteousness  of  my  blessed  Savior,  in 
whom   I   stand   complete. 

Not  long  after  this,  the  church  gave  me 
a  partial  license  to  preach  among  the  des- 
titute churches  of  the  Association,  as  I  was 
still  quite  young.  The  circumstance  which 
led  to  this  act  of  the  church  was  as  fol- 
lows :  While  I  was  on  a  visit  in  the  coun- 
try about  fifty  miles  distant  from  home,  I 
was   invited   to   preach  ;   this,  as  yet,  I  had 


CALL  TO  THE  MINISTRY.  43 

never  attempted,  and  had  my  scruples 
as  the  propriety  of  accepting  the  invita- 
tion. In  ordinary  cases  I  knew  it  would 
not  be  deemed  regular.  However,  being 
overpersuaded,  and  thinking  the  matter 
would  pass  off  without  any  further  notice, 
especially  as  it  was  in  a  place  where  they 
were  not  favored  with  regular  preaching,  I 
therefore  accepted  the  invitation.  The  word 
was  soon  spread,  and  a  large  congregation 
assembled.  I  made  the  attempt  to  preach, 
and  I  think  it  was  not  in  vain,  as  the  Lord 
gave  me  one  soul  that  night  as  the  first 
fruit  of  my  labor,  whom  I  have  since  bap- 
tized. Indeed,  the  meeting  seemed  to  be 
very  interesting  to  us  all,  as  it  did  appear 
that  the  Lord  was  in  our  midst.  I  left 
with  the  expectation  that  the  matter  would 
here  drop  ;  but  in  this  I  was  mistaken,  for 
soon  after  my  return  home,  the  church 
heard  of  what  had  occurred.  However,  it 
operated  differently  from  what  I  had  ex- 
pected ;   for   instead   of  censure,    I   received 


44  UNION  WITH  THE  CHURCH  AND 

the  approbation  of  the  church  ;  and  at  the 
same  tnne,  after  having  heard  me  preach 
before  them,  they  gave  me  a  hcense  to 
preach,  as  has  akeady  been  mentioned.  I 
continued  this  course  until  my  apprentice- 
ship was  ended. 

Soon  after  this  I  became  wedded  to  Miss 
Eunice  Alston,  a  member  of  the  same 
church  with  myself.  After  my  marriage,  I 
commenced  business  and  was  quite  success- 
ful. Still,  my  mind  was  much  interested  in 
my  ministerial  labors.  I  had  been  in  the 
habit  of  preaching  in  the  alms-house  one 
evening  in  the  week  ;  this  exercise  afforded 
me  much  satisfaction,  for  while  preaching 
to  those  poor  distressed  objects,  a  scene  pre- 
sented itself,  well  calculated  to  awaken  sym- 
pathy in  the  mind  of  a  servant  of  Christ, 
coming  with  a  message  of  mercy  from  the 
Savior.  Misery  could  here  be  seen  in  al- 
most unhmited  measure,  and  almost  every 
form.  Here  could  be  seen  the  sick,  the 
halt,  and  the  blind  ;  and  on  many  occasions 


CALL  TO  THE  MINISTRY.  45 

I  was  called  to  stand  by  the  bedside  of 
the  dying ;  sometimes  to  administer  con- 
solation to  those  who  appeared  to  be  truly 
penitent,  by  pointing  them  to  a  dying  Sa- 
vior, who  came  into  the  world  to  save  sin- 
ners. In  some  other  cases,  I  have  witnessed 
the  power  of  religion  exemplified  in  causing 
the  soul  to  depart  in  the  triumphs  of  faith. 
In  the  course  of  my  ministry  at  this  place, 
I  was  sometimes  called  upon  to  witness 
scenes  of  a  far  different  character  from  the 
one  last  referred  to  ;  one  of  which,  of  a 
most  heart-rending  character,  I  will  here 
recite. 

I  was  called  upon,  by  the  request  of  a 
dying  man,  to  come  to  his  bedside  ;  on  ap- 
proaching, I  at  once  recognized  him  as  one 
with  whom  I  was  weU  acquainted  when  I 
was  a  boy ;  he  being,  at  that  time,  a  young 
man  ;  he  was  of  a  very  respectable  family, 
and  had  been  nursed  by  a  kind-hearted  and 
pious  mother,  from  whom  he  had  received 
a  religious  education  ;   but  he,  being  a  me- 


46  UNION  WITH  THE  CHURCH  AND 

chanic,  like  multitudes  of  others,  thought 
that  a  frequent  dram  was  indispensable,  to 
keep  out  the  heat  in  summer,  and  the  cold 
in  winter ;  not  with  the  intention  of  be- 
coming a  drunkard,  but  as  an  act  of  pru- 
dence to  preserve  health  ;  but  alas !  he  had 
taken  the  viper  into  his  bosom,  by  which 
the  seal  of  misery  and  death  was  stamped 
upon  him,  which  he  soon  began  to  realize, 
for  he  gradually  sunk  from  his  standing  in 
respectable  society,  and  finally  became  a  most 
wretched  sot,  where  the  hand  of  charity  had 
found  him,  and  brought  him  to  this  asylum, 
in  order  to  soothe  his  short  but  wretched 
passage  to  the  grave.  When  I  approached 
this  poor  man's  bedside  I  found  him  suffering 
under  all  the  horrors  of  a  guilty  conscience. 
His  awful  doom  seemed  to  be  presented  be- 
fore him.  He  knew  me,  and  begged  that 
I  would  pray  for  him ;  which  I  did,  with 
all  my  heart.  If  this  poor  man  could  have 
had  a  voice  as  loud  as  ten  thousand  thun- 
ders, he  would   have   strained   it   to   its  ut- 


CALL  TO  THE  MINISTRY.  47 

most,  ill  warning  the  world  against  listen- 
ing to  the  cruel  tyrant,  who  had  ruined 
him,  both  in  soul  and  body.  After  pray- 
ing for  him,  and  pointing  him  to  Christ, 
the  only  hope  of  a  dying  sinner,  I  left  him, 
no  more  to  meet  him  on  this  side  the  grave  ; 
I  returned  home,  deeply  affected  with  what 
I   had   witnessed. 

Necessary  attention  to  business,  at  this 
time,  prevented  my  becoming  a  pastor  of  a 
church ;  so  that  my  labors  were  still  con- 
fined to  itinerant  preaching,  supplying  des- 
titute churches  both  in  and  out  of  the  city, 
and  officiating  in  the  pulpit  of  the  Pastor 
when  he  was  sick  or  absent.  Finally  the 
church  finding  that  there  were  so  many 
calls  for  the  ordinances  of  the  Lord's  house 
to  be  administered  in  those  churches  where 
I  officiated,  they  appointed  a  committee 
to  consult  with  me,  as  to  my  willing- 
ness to  receive  ordination.  This  was  quite 
unexpected  to  me ;  still,  as  the  church 
thought    it    advisable,    I    acceded    to   their 


48  UNION  WITH  THE  CHURCH  AND 

wishes.  The  solemnities  of  the  occasion 
took  place  on  the  seventeenth  day  of  Jan- 
uary, eighteen  hundred  and  thirteen.  This 
was  a  very  solemn  day  to  me.  I  still  con- 
tinued my  labors  among  the  churches,  as  I 
did  not  intend  to  settle  as  a  Pastor. 

Up  to  this  time  we,  as  a  family,  had  not 
been  taught  much  in  the  school  of  affliction. 
However,  the  time  had  now  come  that  instruc- 
tion was  needful,  and  our  heavenly  Father 
sent  the  messenger  death  to  communicate 
to  us  that  needed  instruction,  by  entering, 
for  the  first  time,  our  little  family  circle, 
and  removing  from  our  tender  embrace  a  be- 
loved little  son,  upon  whom  our  affections 
were,  perhaps,  too  much  placed.  The  cir- 
cumstances connected  with  this  bereavement 
were  as  singular  as  they  were  afflictive. 
A  few  days  prior  to  his  death,  I  had  left 
home  as  a  delegate  to  the  Philadelphia  As- 
sociation, and  arrived  at  Camden  the  even- 
ing before  the  meeting  was  to  take  place, 
and  there  tarried  for  the  night.     After  re- 


CALL  TO  THE  MINISTRY.  49 

tiring  to  bed  I  fell  into  a  sound  sleep,  at 
\Yliicli  time  I  had  a  remarkable  dream,  in 
which  I  saw  my  little  son,  placed  before 
me  lifeless,  lying  in  the  sleep  of  death. 
My  mind  became  much  distressed,  and  I 
tried  to  persuade  myself  that  it  was  but  a 
dream.  The  more  I  thought  of  it,  the  more  I 
became  convinced  that  it  was  really  the  case. 
When  I  awoke  in  the  morning,  this  dream 
left  such  a  burden  upon  my  mind,  that, 
with  all  my  effort,  I  could  not  banish  it 
from  my  mind,  although  I  knew  that  I  had 
left  him  as  a  picture  of  health.  I  went  to 
the  meeting,  and  heard  the  sermon,  but  still 
remained  in  the  same  sad  state  of  mind.  I 
felt  deeply  impressed  with  a  sense  of  duty 
to  return.  After  the  sermon  was  ended  I 
left,  and  on  arriving  at  home  I  entered 
the  room  where  my  little  son  was.  As  soon 
as  I  saw  him  I  discovered  death  in  his 
countenance,  and  the  next  morning  I  be- 
held him  as  I  had  seen  him  in  my  vision, 
sleeping  the  sleep  of  death.     I  never  should 


50  UNION  WITH  THE  CHURCH  AND 

have  seen  him  m  this  world  again  but 
for  this  warning ;  for  there  was  no  tele- 
grajDh  at  that  day,  and  the  mail  slow  and 
imcertain.  Not  to  have  seen  my  child  again 
would  have  added  greatly  to  my  affliction. 
And  not  only  so,  but  my  presence  was 
greatly  needed  on  such  an  occasion.  I 
learned  by  this  bereavement  a  very  import- 
ant lesson  of  instruction  ;  that  although  ' '  no 
chastening  for  the  present  seemeth  to  be  joy- 
ous, but  grievous  :  nevertheless,  afterward  it 
yieldeth  the  peaceable  fruit  of  righteousness 
unto  them  which  are  exercised  thereby/' 
The  Lord  is  too  wise  to  be  mistaken,  and, 
as  a  kind  father,  intends  that  all  the  afflic- 
tions of  his  people  shall  work  for  their 
good. 

Soon  after  this  occurrence,  I  obtained  a 
patent  right  for  the  first  cooking  stove 
that  had  ever  been  invented.  This  circum- 
stance had  a  tendency  to  increase  my  bus- 
iness to  a  considerable  degree,  and  thus 
to  interfere  with  my  ministerial  labors.     In 


CALL  TO  THE  MINISTRY.  51 

order  to  remedy  this  evil,  I  solicited  my 
brother,  who  was  in  the  same  business  with 
myself,  to  become  a  partner  in  the  concern. 
To  this  he  at  once  acceded,  so  that  I  be- 
came relieved  from  the  embarrassment  un- 
der, which  I  had  been  laboring  for  some 
time  past.  I  now  entered  more  fully  into 
my  ministerial  labors,  and  doors  were  open- 
ing on  every  hand  for  preaching,  which  I 
attended  to  as  far  as  my  ability  would  ad- 
mit, and  in  some  cases  I  believe  that  my 
labors  were  not  in  vain  in  the  Lord.  This 
was  evidently  the  case  at  Middletown,  Eock- 
land  County,  New  York.  I  labored  with 
this  church  half  of  my  time  about  eighteen 
months,  during  which  time  the  church  was 
blessed  by  the  addition  of  many  precious 
souls.  These  brethren  had  a  great  share  in 
my  affection,  and  I  doubt  not  that  I  should 
have  settled  among  them,  but  for  my  busi- 
ness having  confined  me  to  the  city,  where 
my  attention  was  occasionally  required. 
In  the  course  of  the  year  eighteen  hundred 


52  UNION  WITH  THE  CHURCH  AND 

and  sixteen,  I  became  acquainted  with  the 
Rev.  Peter  "Wilson  of  Hightstown,  New  Jer- 
sey, who  gave  me  an  invitation  to  attend  their 
yearly  meeting,  on  the  first  Lord's  day  of  Au- 
gust, but  on  account  of  previous  engagements 
I  could  not  attend.  The  next  year,  however, 
the  invitation  being  renewed,  I  made  my  ar- 
rangements to  attend,  and,  accordingly,  on 
the  day  appointed,  I  was  found  among  the 
brethren  who  were  invited  to  take  a  part  in 
the  meeting,  among  whom  I  found  a  young 
brother  who  had  been  jDreaching  for  the 
church  a  few  times  as  a  candidate  for  the 
pastoral  office.  Consequently,  as  none  of  us 
had  come  with  that  intention,  we  made  our 
arrangements  for  him  to  preach  on  Lord's 
day  morning,  as  a  large  congregation  was  ex- 
pected to  be  present  at  that  time.  Some  of 
the  brethren  occupied  the  pulpit  on  Satur- 
day, myself  closing  the  meeting  with  a  few 
remarks ;  after  which,  Deacon  Thomas  Allen 
gave  me  an  invitation  to  make  his  house  my 
home  during  the  meeting,  whose  kind  offer  I 


CALL  TO  THE  MINISTRY.  53 

accepted.  On  our  way  to  his  home,  we  en- 
tered mto  a  very  agreeable  conversation  upon 
matters  of  rehgion,  with  which  I  found  him 
to  be  well  acquainted,  and  from  the  knowledge 
he  seemed  to  have  of  his  Bible,  I  thought  him 
admirably  well  qualified  as  a  father  in  Israel, 
and  I  could  not  wonder  that  the  Church 
should  have  selected  him  as  a  fit  person  to  fill 
the  office  of  Deacon.  On  our  arrival  I  was 
received  with  kindness  by  the  family.  After 
supper,  we  resumed  our  religious  conversa- 
tion, in  the  course  of  which  he  was  somewhat 
inquisitive  as  to  my  situation  in  life.  In 
reply  I  gave  him  to  understand  that  I  was  in 
business  with  my  brother,  and  the  most  part 
of  my  time  was  occupied  in  supplying  desti- 
tute Churches.  The  conversation  being  end- 
ed, and  family  devotions  attended  to,  we 
retired  to  bed. 

On  the  next  morning,  being  Lord's  day,  we 
met  our  brethren  again  at  the  house  of  God. 
As  was  expected,  a  very  large  congregation 
assembled,  so  that  not  more  than  one  half  of 


54  UNION  WITH  THE  CHURCH  AND 

the  peojDle  could  get  into  the  house.  The 
young  brother  who  was  to  officiate,  appeared 
to  be  well  qualified  for  the  labors  of  the  day. 
He  made  quite  a  display  of  talent,  both  nat- 
ural and  acquired,  and  it  was  very  perceptible 
that  he  had  studied  the  art  of  elocution  to  a 
considerable  degree ;  and  I  doubt  not  that 
his  sermon  would  have  graced  the  pulpit 
of  a  congregation  that  had  become  more 
refined  in  literature  ;  but  instead  of  this, 
his  hearers  were  made  up  of  plain  farmers, 
who  were  expecting  to  hear  the  truth 
preached,  in  language  simplified  to  their 
understanding.  If  we  wish  to  teach  children, 
we  must  make  use  of  language  suited  to  their 
capacity.  I  have-  often  heard  of  generals 
who,  when  going  into  battle,  charged  their 
men  not  to  aim  too  high,  for  in  so  doing, 
their  ammunition  would  be  wasted.  I  there- 
fore have  come  to  the  conclusion,  that  a  plain 
style  of  preaching  is  the  best  adapted  to  the 
pulpit.  A  want  of  this,  I  think,  was  what 
foiled   this   young   man's  hope  of  becoming 


CALL  TO  THE  MINISTRY.  55 

the  pastor  of  Hightstown  Church.  I  there- 
fore would  advise  all  young  men  m  the  min- 
istry, in  preaching  Christ  crucified,  to  adapt 
their  style  to  the  comprehension  of  the  most 
illiterate  of  their  hearers,  and  no  one  is  so 
well  qualified  to  do  this  as  a  man  of  learning. 
Therefore,  as  in  the  days  of  Christ,  let  the 
poor  have  the  Gospel  preached  to  them. 
However,  I  must  now  dismiss  these  remarks, 
having  given  them  a  larger  space  than  I  at 
first  intended. 

After  sermon  was  concluded,  it  fell  to  my 
lot  again  to  make  some  further  observations, 
after  which  the  meeting  was  closed,  and  I  re- 
turned with  brother  Allen.  In  the  course  of 
our  conversation  that  evening,  I  gave  him  to 
understand  that  I  expected  to  return  home 
the  next  morning.  In  reply  to  this,  he  said 
that  the  leading  members  of  the  Church  had 
decided  for  me  to  preach  the  next  day,  which 
would  close  the  meeting.  This  did  not  ac- 
cord with  my  feelings,  but  being  urged  by 
brother    Allen,    I   acceded   to    their   wishes. 


56  UNION  WITH  THE  CHURCH  AND 

After  having  preached  for  them  the  next  day, 
they  held  a  private  meeting,  at  the  conclu- 
sion of  which,  they  interrogated  me  in  rela- 
tion to  my  willingness  to  accept  of  a  call  to 
become  the  pastor  of  the  chmxh.  This  was 
far  from  what  I  anticipated,  as  I  did  not 
come  for  such  a  purpose.  However,  I  gave 
them  to  understand  how  I  was  situated,  and 
that  I  was  in  business,  and  that  I  was  unpre- 
pared to  give  them  any  encouragement,  but 
as  they  were  destitute,  I  would  visit  them 
again  in  a  few  weeks,  and  accordingly  made 
the  appointment. 

This  act  of  the  church  may  be  thought 
premature,  and  doubtless  it  would  have  been 
so,  but  for  the  reason  that  they  had  received, 
as  they  thought,  sufficient  intelligence  from 
their  former  pastor,  in  relation  to  my  stand- 
ing in  the  church  where  I  held  my  member- 
ship. After  having  taken  leave  of  the  breth- 
ren,  I  returned  home.  On  my  arrival,  I  un- 
derstood that  my  brother's  wife  had  purposed 
in  her  mind  to  visit  her  parents,  who  lived 


CALL  TO  THE  MINISTRY.  57 

near  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania,  provided  I 
would  accompany  her.  This  arrangement, 
I  saw,  would  clash  with  my  appointment  at 
Hightstown,  and  by  delaying  the  journey  un- 
til this  should  have  been  fulfilled,  would  have 
made  it  too  late  in  the  season  to  have  re- 
turned before  winter.  I,  therefore,  had  to 
leave  the  matter  for  further  consideration, 
until  I  should  see  my  duty  more  plain. 


CHAPTER  lY. 

VISIT  TO  PITTSBURGH  AND  VICINITY.— SETTLEMENT 
AND  LABORS  WITH  THE  HIGHTSTOWN  BAPTIST 
CHURCH.— WONDERFUL   ESCAPE. 

The  conflict  which  had  occupied  my  mind, 
referred  to  in  the  close  of  the  preceding  chap- 
ter, originated  from  mj  unwilHngness  to  dis- 
appoint my  brethren  at  Hightstown,  although 
I  did  not  feel  disposed  to  accept  of  the  pas- 
toral office  of  any  church,  for  I  had  often 
witnessed  the  difficulty  attending  that  charge  ; 
and  at  the  same  time  I  had  a  strong  impulse 
to  accede  to  my  brother's  wife's  wishes,  as  this 
would  afford  me  a  favorable  opportunity  to 
visit  my  brethren  in  what  was,  at  that  time, 
termed  the  far  west.  I  finally  decided  to  go, 
and  accordingly  we  set  out  on  our  journey, 
passing  through  Hightstown,  and  calHng  upon 
brother  Allen,  in  order  to  communicate  to 
him  a  statement  of  the  case  ;  who,  after  hav- 


VISIT  TO  PITTSBURGH.  59 

ing  heard  how  the  matter  stood,  seemed  to  be 
disappointed ;  yet  did  not  censure  me  for  the 
com^se  I  had  taken,  and  offered  to  get  the 
pulpit  supphed  until  my  return.  This  was 
altogether  different  from  my  expectation,  for 
I  had  thought  that  my  having  to  be  so  long 
absent,  would  have  put  an  end  to  any  thing 
further  in  relation  to  this  matter.  However, 
I  thought  the  Lord  might  send  some  one 
among  the  brethren  who  should  visit  them  in 
my  absence,  who  might  receive  the  approba- 
tion of  the  church,  and  receive  a  call  to  the 
pastoral  ofiice. 

Under  these  impressions,  I  took  my  leave 
of  brother  Allen,  resting  the  whole  matter 
in  the  hands  of  God,  whose  wisdom  can  not 
err,  in  bringing  about  all  events  for  our 
good  and  his  own  glory,  and  proceeded  on 
our  journey ;  and  after  the  lapse  of  ten  days, 
we  arrived  at  our  place  of  destination.  I 
soon  found  a  large  field  opened  before  me, 
already  white  for  the  harvest,  and  the  labor- 
ers but  few,  so  that  I  saw  that  my  work  was 


60  VISIT  TO  PITTSBURGH 

laid  out  before  me,  together  with  the  means 
necessary  to  facihtate  that  work,  without 
which  it  could  not  have  been  accomplished. 
The  hand  of  the  Lord  must  have  been  in 
the  matter,  for  I  soon  found  a  warm-heart- 
ed brother,  who  had  horses  at  his  command, 
and  was  well  acquainted  with  the  people 
and  country,  to  a  great  distance  round,  who 
offered  his  services  to  become  my  guide 
and  companion,  on  a  missionary  tour  to  this 
destitute  region.  This  offer  was  received 
with  grateful  feelings,  and  accordingly,  we 
set  out  upon  the  field  of  our  labor,  and  I 
am  inclined  to  think  that  it  was  under  the 
guidance  of  a  Divine  providence,  for  it 
proved  both  pleasing  and  profitable  to  us, 
and  I  think,  a  blessing  to  those  among 
whom  we  traveled.  The  people  received 
us,  in  every  case,  with  a  joyful  welcome, 
while  I  preached  to  them  the  great  salva- 
tion, proclaimed  in  the  gospel ;  and  I  can 
not  doubt  that  many  serious  and  lasting  im- 
pressions were  made.     After  preaching,   we 


AND  VICINITY.  61 

sung  and   prayed  until   a   late    hour  of  the 
night.     Our  meetings  were  always  crowded. 
If  I  had  kept  a  diary,  it  would  have  fur- 
nished me  with   some    interesting    incidents 
which  occurred  during  this  tour,  of  a  most 
pleasing   character,    and   might   have    found 
a  place   here,  to  some    advantage.     One    of 
these  incidents  is  still  fresh  in  my  memory, 
and  I  shall   refer  to  it,    as   I  pass    on.     On 
one  occasion,   we  called    at  a  public   house, 
and   gave    the   landlord   to    understand    the 
object  of  our  tour.     We  were  received  and 
treated   kindly,    and    invited    to   preach    at 
his   house    that    evening,    to   which   I    con- 
sented.    The   invitation   was    at  once   circu- 
lated,    and    in    the    evening   a   very   large 
assembly   came    together ;    and    judging    by 
my   feelings,    and    the    serious    impressions 
that   seemed   to   be   made    upon   the   minds 
of  the  hearers,   the  great  day  will  tell  that 
some   good   was    done    that   evening.      The 
next  day,  we    set  out   to    the    place    of  our 
next   appointment,  about  ten   miles  distant. 


62  VISIT  TO  PITTSBURGH 

After  having  passed  on  our  way  a  few 
miles,  on  looking  back  we  saw  a  young 
man  on  horseback,  a  few  hundred  yards 
distant,  who  appeared  to  be  in  deep  medi- 
tation. My  brother  remarked  to  me,  that  he 
was  under  the  impression  that  the  young  man 
had  been  to  the  meeting  the  night  before, 
and  had  received  some  serious  convictions, 
which  were  now  resting  upon  his  mind.  I 
replied  that  these  were  my  impressions.  He 
kept  himself  at  the  same  distance,  to  the 
place  of  meeting.  On  our  arrival,  he  min- 
gled with  the  crowd,  so  that  I  heard  no 
more  of  him  until  my  return  home. 

This  meeting  was  the  most  interesting  of 
any  that  we  had  had.  The  house  was  large 
and  every  part  crowded.  Many  of  the  people 
had  come  from  a  great  distance.  This  was 
a  very  happy  meeting  to  me,  and  I  found 
great  liberty  in  preaching.  After  the  ser- 
mon was  ended,  the  brethren  continued  the 
meeting  through  the  night,  in  singing,  pray- 
ing,   and   exhorting,  being   too    dark  to   re- 


AND  VICINITY.  63 

turn  home.  Our  meetings  were  becoming 
more  and  more  interesting.  On  Lord's  days 
I  preached  in  meeting-houses.  These  houses 
were  of  quite  rude  construction,  both  in  their 
workmanship  and  materials.  They  were 
built  with  logs,  plastered  with  clay,  and  the 
doors  and  windows  cut  out  of  the  logs. 
The  seats  were  of  rough  slabs,  placed  on 
logs.  The  pulpit  was  a  platform,  raised 
about  two  feet  from  the  floor,  constructed 
after  the  same  manner,  and  having  a  crotch 
placed  at  each  end,  with  a  slab  across  to 
rest  the  Bible  on.  However,  I  believe  that 
these  buildings,  though  of  such  rough  con- 
struction, have  been  often  graced  with  the 
Divine  presence  ;  for  I  am  confident  that  I 
can  witness  to  the  truth  of  this,  for  I  never 
preached  to  more  attentive  and  solemn  con- 
gregations, for  every  eye  was  fixed,  and  every 
heart  seemed  to  be  open,  for  the  reception 
of  the  word  of  life.  As  for  myself,  I  think 
that  I  never  felt  more  of  the  power  of  re- 
ligion in    my  soul,  than   while    preaching   in 


64  VISIT  TO  PITTSBURGH 

those  rude  houses.  However,  these  ancient 
structures  have  been  giving  way  for  a  more 
modern  style  of  architecture  ;  and  the  whole 
face  of  the  country  is  becoming  changed 
from  its  former  appearance. 

After  having  been  traveling  and  preach- 
ing near  three  months,  I  took  my  leave  of 
the  brethren,  and  set  out  for  home.  On 
my  arrival,  I  found  that  the  church  at  Hights- 
town  had  been  waiting -for  me,  consequently 
I  felt  it  my  duty  to  visit  them  again ;  and 
in  a  few  days,  I  was  found  again  in  their 
pulpit,  and  after  having  preached,  they  ten- 
dered to  me  a  unanimous  call  to  become 
their  pastor,  with  the  understanding  that  I 
was  to  supply  them  occasionally  during  the 
winter.  Having  had  this  matter  under  se- 
rious, consideration,  while  viewing  the  hand 
of  Providence  in  opening  this  door,  I  did 
not  dare  say  nay,  but  at  once  accepted 
the  call. 

After  having  made  ni}^  arrangements  to 
supply  them,    I   took   leave    for   home,   and 


AND  VICINITY.  65 

on  my  arriving,  I  received  four  letters ;  one 
from  Doctor  Estep,  one  of  the  most  popular 
and  useful  preachers  of  the  region  of  country 
that  I  had  so  recently  visited.  This  letter 
contained  a  call,  under  the  direction  of  one 
of  the  churches.  However,  my  recent  en- 
gagements with  the  church  at  Hightstown 
put  an  end  to  this  matter.  I  have  learned 
that  the  Doctor  has,  within  a  few  months 
past,  been  called  home  to  receive  the  reward 
of  his  labor,  being  far  advanced  in  years. 

I  received  a  very  interesting  letter  from 
one  of  the  Doctor's  students,  of  the  Medi- 
cal department.  This  young  man  was  awak- 
ened under  my  preaching.  He  gave  me  to 
understand  that  he  had  been  reduced  al- 
most to  a  state  of  despair,  but  finally  found 
the  Savior,  to  the  joy  of  his  soul.  I  re- 
ceived another  letter,  from  the  young  man 
to  whom  I  have  already  referred,  as  hav- 
ing been  awakened  at  the  public  house,  and 
who  followed  on  to  my  next  appointment. 
The  language    of  this   letter   was   most   ex- 


66  VISIT  TO  PITTSBURGH 

pressive  of  the  deep,  pungent  conviction 
which  he  had  felt  in  his  soul,  that  he  had 
been  such  a  great  sinner,  but  that  after  a 
hard  struggle  he  had  found  peace  of  mind, 
in  the  dying,  risen  Jesus,  who  came  into 
the  world  to  save  sinners.  I  understood, 
soon  after,  that  this  young  man  had  be- 
come a  member  of  the  church,  and  had 
been  sent  forth  to  preach  the  gospel. 

The  other  letter  was  from  a  young  mar- 
ried man  whose  case  was  most  remarkable  ; 
he  had  given  up  all  for  lost,  and  dared  not 
pray  any  longer.  In  this  sad  state  of  mind, 
he  sat  down  and  wrote  this  letter,  in  which 
he  gave  me  a  detail  of  the  great  conflict 
he  had  felt  in  his  mind,  while  viewing  the 
lost  state  of  his  soul,  and  that  now  he  was 
despairing  of  ever  receiving  any  consolation. 
As  he  was  about  folding  up  his  letter,  a 
thought  occurred  to  his  mind  that  God 
might  have  mercy  in  store  for  him,  although 
he  was  a  great  sinner.  While  under  these 
impressions,  he  at  once  retired  to  the  woods. 


AND  VICINITY.  67 

and  fell  clown  upon  .his  knees,  and  like 
Jacob  of  old,  wrestled  with  Grod  in  fervent 
prayer,  until  he  obtained  the  blessing.  He 
arose  from  his  knees,  and  returned  home 
with  his  soul  full  of  glory,  rejoicing  in  the 
Savior.  He  sat  down,  and  added  to  his 
letter,  the  wonderful  change  he  had  expe- 
rienced. His  load  of  sin  and  guilt  fell  off. 
He  now  understood  what  the  Savior  meant, 
by  being  born  again,  and  what  it  is  to  be 
made  *'a  new  creature  in  Christ  Jesus." 

Oh  the  love  of  that  dear  Savior !  how 
it  makes  the  soul  rejoice.  It  can  calm  the 
troubled  ocean  of  the  mind,  when  it  hears 
his  powerful  voice.  Oh  what  a  satisfaction 
it  is  to  a  servant  of  Christ,  when  he  is 
made  the  means  of  restoring  a  poor  prodi- 
gal to  his  Father's  house,  and  to  feast  upon 
the  provision  furnished  by  the  dying  groans 
of  the  blessed  Savior,  who  gave  his  life  to 
save  the  vilest  of  sinners.  The  contrast  be- 
tween the  former  and  the  latter  part  of  this 
letter  was  wonderful. 


68  LABORS  AT  HIGHTSTOWN. 

I  shall  now  return  to  my  narrative,  in 
relation  to  my  connection  with  the  church 
at  Hightstown.  After  having  supplied  this 
church  occasionally  through  the  winter,  I 
moved  my  family  among  them  during  the 
month  of  April,  eighteen  hundred  and  eight- 
een, and  on  the  first  Lord's  day  in  May, 
I  assumed  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  church. 
I  was  happy  in  finding  that  this  church  was 
greatly  blessed  with  good  deacons,  they  be- 
ing men  of  exemplary  piety,  and  always 
working  in  harmony  with  each  other.  They 
were  honest,  open-hearted  men,  and  never 
sought  to  impose  upon  the  church  the  plans 
which  they  might  have  adopted,  without  a 
hearty  approval  of  the  church.  Their  names 
were  as  follows :  Thomas  Allen,  Wilson 
Hunt,  and  Enoch  Chamberlin.  These  breth- 
ren after  having  served  the  church  a  great 
number  of  years,  had,  at  the  time  of  writ- 
ing this  narrative,  gone  home  ;  they  had 
ceased  from  their  labor  and  their  work  did 
follow  them.     From  the  time    of  my  enter- 


LABORS  AT  HIGHTSTOWN.  69 

ing  upon  my  charge,  we  had  a  gradual  in- 
crease, both  of  the  church  and  the  congre- 
gation, more  especially  of  the  latter,  and 
the  church  was  much  united. 

After  the  lapse  of  two  years,  death  en- 
tered, the  second  time,  into  our  family  cir- 
cle, and  removed  from  me  the  bride  of  my 
youth.  She  had  long  participated  with  me 
in  my  joys  and  sorrows.  The  evening  be- 
fore her  death,  in  our  family  devotion,  she 
requested  to  line  the  hymn  that  she  had 
selected  as  being  well  adapted  to  the  state 
of  her  mind,  having  no  hope  but  in  the 
death  of  Christ ;  and  although  she  had  al- 
ways been  destitute  of  a  voice  for  singing, 
yet  on  this  occasion,  she  sung  with  a  strong 
and  clear  voice.  After  our  devotions  were 
ended,  she  lay  comfortable,  until  near  the 
approach  of  morning,  at  which  time,  we 
were  summoned  to  her  bedside,  to  take 
our  leave  of  her  immortal  spirit,  which  in 
a  few  moments,  took  its  departure  to  God 
who  gave  it.     She  had  been  long  in  a  poor 


70  LABORS  AT  HIGHTSTOWN. 

state  of  health,  yet  her  death  was  sudden 
and  unexpected.  By  this  bereavement,  I 
was  left  with  five  small  motherless  children. 
This  affliction  can  not  be  fully  estimated  by 
any  but  those  who  have  had  the  experience. 
The  funeral  solemnities  were  attended  by  a 
large  concourse  of  people.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Elliot  delivered  the  sermon,  and  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Henry,  of  Cranbery,  closed  the  meet- 
ing. After  this,  nothing  of  a  special  nature 
occurred  in  the  church,  until  the  fourth  of 
September,  eighteen  hundred  and  twenty- 
three  ;  at  which  time  we  sustained  a  great 
loss  of  one  of  our  deacons,  our  beloved 
brother,  Wilson  Hunt.  The  death  of  this 
amiable  man  I  felt  most  sensibly,  for  in 
him  I  lost  a  kind  and  affectionate  friend, 
whose  house  was  to  me  like  that  of  a  fath- 
er ;  and  his  loss  to  the  church  could  hardly 
be  estimated,  for  in  it,  she  lost  one  of  her 
strong  pillars,  for  he  was  always  active  in 
the  cause  of  Christ.  He  possessed  the  means, 
and   was   not   wanting   in   will,   to   promote 


LABORS  AT  HIGHTSTOWN.  71 

the  interest  of  the  church.  He  finished  his 
course  with  joy,  at  the  age  of  sixty  years. 
Although  he  is  dead,  yet  he  still  lives  in  the 
hearts  of  his  brethren,  and  with  him  who 
said  ''  because  I  live  ye  shall  live  also." 

At  about  this  time,  the  church  at  Notting- 
ham Square,  being  destitute  of  a  pastor,  gave 
me  a  call  to  suppl}^  them  one  half  of  the 
time.  This  church  was  located  some  nine 
miles  from  Hightstown.  After  having  ob- 
tained the  approbation  of  my  brethren,  I  ac- 
ceded to  their  wishes,  and  entered  upon  my 
labors.  This  opened  a  wide  door  for  use- 
fulness^ still  it  increased  my  labor  consider- 
ably. A  little  prior  to  this,  I  had  become 
wedded  to  a  daughter  of  deacon  Thomas 
Allen,  who  proved  to  be  an  excellent  con- 
sort in  the  way  to  heaven,  and  a  kind 
mother  to  my  children. 

We  have  now  to  record  the  death  of  the 
Kev.  Peter  Wilson,  my  predecessor,  wlio 
was  the  second  pastor  of  this  church,  and 
continued    his    official    relation  for    the  term 


72  LABORS  AT  HIGHTSTOWN. 

of  twenty-eiglit  years.  He  finished  his  course 
May  the  fourteenth,  eighteen  hundred  and 
twenty-four,  being  at  the  time  of  his  death 
seventy-two  years  old.  This  brother,  in  the 
morning  of  his  hfe,  was  one  of  the  most 
successful  ministers  of  the  Baptist  order  in 
the  State  of  New  Jersey  ;  and  although  his 
afternoon  w^as  somewhat  cloudy,  yet  we 
hope  to  meet  him  in  that  better  world, 
where  all  the  clouds  and  darkness  of  imper- 
fection shall  be  lost  in  the  blissful  sunshine 
of  an  eternal  day.  Let  us  who  are  still 
in  this  world  of  sin,  receive  a  caution  from 
the  Book  of  God,  "Let  him  that  think- 
eth  he  standeth  take  heed  lest  he  fall." 

Two  years  subsequent,  the  fields  of  my 
labor  began  to  ripen  for  harvest,  at  which 
time  I  found  the  fulfillment  of  a  blessed 
promise  that  ' '  he  that  soweth  in  tears  shall 
reap  in  joy."  I  had  long  been  weeping  and 
praying  over  the  people,  and  sometimes  un- 
der the  greatest  discouragements,  but  now 
the    time    had    come   to    favor   Zion,    and   I 


LABORS  AT  HIGHTSTOWN.  73 

saw  that  I  had  not  been  laboring  in  vain. 
My  Master  armed  me  with  courage,  and 
I  entered  into  the  work  with  all  my 
heart ;  the  Lord  blessing  my  labors,  so  that 
a  large  harvest  of  souls  was  gathered  into 
his  garner.  During  this  revival,  which  lasted 
some  considerable  time,  I  think  that  over 
a  hundred  and  fifty  were  added  to  the 
churches.  This  work  gave  every  indication 
of  its  being  of  God  ;  there  having  been  no 
special  efforts  made  use  of,  and  if  my  mem- 
ory is  correct,  there  was  not  a  Lord's  day 
passed,  during  this  revival,  but  the  ordi- 
nance of  baptism  was  administered  ;  and 
many  of  those  who  were  gathered  in  at  that 
time,  are  now  the  pillars  of  these  churches, 
although  many  of  them  are  gone  to  be  sanc- 
tified in  heaven.  The  churches  were  very 
particular  in  the  examination  of  their  can- 
didates, as  to  the  reason  of  the  hope  with- 
in them.  Near  the  close  of  this  revival,  I 
received  a  call  from  the  church  in  South- 
ampton,  Pennsylvania.     I  had  preached  for 


74  LABORS  AT  HIGHTSTOWN. 

them  several  times,  after  tlie  death  of  thek 
pastor,  as  a  supply.  This  circumstance  opened 
a  door  to  the  course  which  the  church 
pursued  in  this  matter.  The  propositions 
were  every  way  satisfactory ;  indeed  they 
were  far  more  inviting,  in  relation  to  worldly 
comforts,  than  where  I  was  then  settled. 
However,  when  I  began  to  think  the  mat- 
ter over,  I  found  that  my  tender  feelings, 
being  like  that  of  a  father  to  his  children, 
began  to  preponderate  in  favor  of  my  re- 
maining with  my  brethren  with  whom  I 
had  lived  in  the  greatest  harmony  and  friend- 
ship ;  and  at  the  same  time,  they  were  much 
opposed  to  my  leaving  them.  After  due 
consideration  I  gave  the  church  at  South- 
ampton to  understand  how  matters  stood  in 
relation  to  my  leaving  my  charge,  in  which 
I  had  so  long  remained  happy,  and  that 
I  felt  it  my  duty  to  decline  accepting  their 
call.  However,  from  some  circumstances 
which  have  occurred  since  that  time,  I 
have    had    a    query   arising    in     my    mind, 


LABORS  AT  HIGHTSTOWN.  75 

whether   I  had   not   let   my  tender   feehngs 
lead  me  astray  in  this  matter. 

Soon  after  this,  an  event  occuiTed  which 
furnished  me  with  a  very  striking  evidence  of 
the  power  of  faith.     My  wife  had  become  re- 
duced so  low  in   health,  that  her  physician 
gave  up  all  hope  of  her  recovery.     By  my  re- 
quest, he  called  in  one  of  the  most  noted  con- 
sulting physicians.     After   having  concluded 
their  consultations,  they  called  me  out  of  the 
room,  in  order  to  communicate  to  me  their 
decision,  which  was  that  she  could  not  sur- 
vive the  night.     I  felt  very  much  afilicted  in 
mind,  on  hearing  the  sad  tidings  ;  I  was  con- 
fident  that  although  the   help    of  man   had 
failed,  yet  there  was  nothing  too  hard  for  the 
Lord  to  do  ;  I  retired  into  a  secret  place,  and 
there  poured  out  my  soul  in  prayer  to  God  j 
and  I  think  that  I  felt,  on  that  occasion,  the 
same  divine  impulse  that  Jacob  did  when  he 
wrestled  with  God.     My  faith  was  so  strong, 
that  I  felt  an  assurance  that  my  wife  would 
recover  her  usual  health.     On  returning  to 


76  LABORS  AT  HIGHTSTOWX. 

the  room  where  my  wife  lay,  on  approachmg 
her  bed,  I  told  her  what  I  had  felt ;  she  re- 
plied that  she  had  experienced  the  same  feel- 
ing ;  and  from  that  time  she  began  to  recover, 
and  was  soon  restored  to  her  usual  health. 
Her  physician  called  the  next  morning,  with 
the  expectation  of  finding  her  a  corpse  ;  but 
instead  of  this,  he  found  her  fast  recovering. 
The  above  may  appear  to  some  rather  fanci- 
ful. However,  I  believe  that  God  can  have 
a  free  access  to  the  mind  of  any  individual,  so 
as  to  influence  him  to  the  act  of  fervent 
prayer,  through  which  he  receives  the  bless- 
ings that  God  has  promised.  This  the  Bible 
confirms,  beyond  a  doubt. 

At  about  this  time,  the  church  had  become 
greatly  increased  both  in  members  and  con- 
gregation, many  of  whom  were  persons  of 
wealth.  This  led  the  way  for  the  minds  of 
the  people  to  become  agitated  in  reference  to 
the  building  of  a  new  meeting-house.  So 
that,  in  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  thirty- 
four,  they  had  a  new  brick  building  dedicated 


LABORS  AT  HIGHTSTOWN.  77 

to  the  service  of  God.  A  short  time  before 
this,  I  had  resigned  my  charge  at  the  Square 
Chm-ch,  as  they  were  now  in  circumstances  to 
support  a  pastor.  I  have  always  felt  strongly 
attached  to  this  church  ever  since  my  first  ac- 
quaintance with  them,  and  have  ever  felt  a 
very  great  pleasure  in  preaching  for  them 
occasionally. 

In  eighteen  hundred  and  thirty-six  I  re- 
signed my  charge  of  the  Hightstown  Church, 
after  having  been  their  pastor  for  the  term 
of  eighteen  years.  However,  by  the  request 
of  the  church,  I  continued  to  supply  them 
three  months  longer,  and  then  took  an  affec- 
tionate leave  of  my  brethren,  with  whom  I 
and  my  family  had  for  so  many  years  min- 
gled our  joys  and  sorrows.  I  left  them  with 
the  satisfaction  that  my  labors  had  not  been 
in  vain  in  the  Lord. 

I  will  here  record  a  wonderful  escape  that 
I  experienced,  soon  after  I  commenced  my 
ministerial  labors,  in  which  I  was  providen- 
tially saved  from  a  most  painful  death.    I  had 


78 


WONDERFUL  ESCAPE 


been  preaching  at  Washington,  South  River  ; 
on  my  return,  by  way  of  j^ew  Brunswick,  I 
took  passage  on  board  of  the  first  steamboat 
that  phed  between  that  place  and  ^ew 
York.  "While  passing  Amboy,  the  passen- 
gers, amounting  to  about  sixty,  being  all  in 
the  cabin,  at  this  moment  a  pleasure  boat 
passed  us,  having  on  board  a  band  of  music. 
At  this  juncture,  they  struck  up  a  tune,  and 
at  once  a  rush  was  made  for  the  deck,  myself 
being  the  last  to  ascend  the  stairs,  having 
placed  one  foot  on  the  deck,  the  boiler  ex- 
ploded and  tore  away  the  stairs,  that  my 
other  foot  had,  at  that  instant,  left.  We  all 
ran  to  the  stern  of  the  boat,  and  fell  down 
and  held  our  faces  over  to  get  our  breath,  the 
steam  being  so  suffocating.  As  soon  as 
the  steam  had  passed  away,  we  proceeded  to 
the  bow  of  the  boat,  where  an  appalling  sight 
presented  itself  to  our  view  ;  a  man  had  been 
brought  up  out  of  the  bow  cabin,  and  while 
they  were  in  the  act  of  stripping  him,  his 
skin  adhered  to  his  clothes.    This  poor  sufferer 


FROM  DEATH.  79 

lingered  upon  the  shores  of  mortahty  in  the 
most  dreadful  agony  about  two  hours,  and 
then  took  his  leave  of  the  world.  Xo  pen 
can  describe  the  suffering  of  this  poor  man, 
and  we  all  escaped  the  same  horrid  death,  as 
within  a  hair's  breadth.  I  have  often  recalled 
this  occurrence  to  mind,  but  not  without  ten- 
der feelings  of  gratitude  to  God,  who  has  been 
my  preserver,  not  only  in  this  but  in  many 
other  cases.  Indeed,  I  see  enough  daily  to 
excite  my  grateful  feelings. 


CHAPTER  Y. 

LABORS    AT    JAMAICA,    LAMBERTSYILLE,    AND    ELSE- 
WHERE.—CLOSE  OF  THE  NARRATIVE. 

After  having  taken  my  leave  of  the  breth- 
ren at  Hightstown,  I  returned  to  the  city  of 
'New  York,  with  the  expectation  of  spending 
the  remainder  of  my  days  in  occasional  preach- 
ing. I  was  not  long  in  the  city,  before  I  was 
called  upon  to  supply  destitute  churches,  and 
among  .the  rest,  the  church  at  Jamaica,  Long 
Island.  This  little  church  had  just  sprung 
up,  having  but  a  few  members,  and  hold- 
ing their  meetings  in  a  school-house.  I  had 
preached  for  them  but  a  few  times,  before  I 
began  to  discover  some  things  of  a  very  hope- 
ful appearance.  The  congregation  increased, 
and  serious  impressions  were  made  upon  the 
minds  of  many.  The  brethren  invited  me  to 
move  among  them,  and  take  the  charge  of 
this  little  branch  ;  and  on  becoming  convinced 
that  duty  dictated  such  a  course,  I  accepted 


LABORS  AT  JAMAICA.  81 

their  invitation,  and  was  soon  settled  among 
them.  The  congregation  continued  to  in- 
crease, until  the  school-house  became  crowd- 
ed to  overflowing. 

The  brethren  seeing  the  prospect  so  pleas- 
ing, soon  set  about  erecting  a  new  meeting- 
house, and  in  a  short  time  we  had  a  neat 
little  house  dedicated  to  the  service  of  God. 
The  dedication  sermon  was  preached  by  the 
Rev.  Doctor  Dowling  of  ^""ew  York,  on  the 
8th  of  April,  1838.  The  congregation  contin- 
ued to  increase,  and  a  number  were  baptized 
and  added  to  the  church.  After  having  la- 
bored for  this  church  near  two  years,  a  cir- 
cumstance occurred  that  put  an  end  to  my 
further  prospects.  The  leading  members  of 
the  church,  together  with  their  families, 
twenty-eight  in  number,  left  for  the  far  West. 

The  church  at  Lamberts ville,  New  Jersey, 
having  heard  that  I  was  about  resigning  my 
charge,  gave  me  a  call  to  become  their  pas- 
tor. Although  it  had  been  my  wish  to  be 
freed  from  the  charge  of  a  church,  yet  through 


82  LABORS  AT  LAMBERTSVILLE 

the  persuasion  of  friends,  I  accepted  the  call, 
and  settled  among  them.  Dm-ing  my  stay 
with  these  brethren  I  was  very  happy,  and  I 
believed  that  my  labors  were  not  in  vain  in 
the  Lord ;  however,  it  seemed  not  to  be  the 
will  of  my  Master  that  I  should  make  a  pro- 
tracted stay  in  this  place,  on  account  of  the 
ill-health  of  my  wife,  whoi  had  caught  a  heavy 
cold,  from  the  dampness  of  the  house  in 
which  we  had  been  living.  She,  however, 
was  restored  in  some  measure,  so  far  as  to  be 
about  house,  but  it  was  finally  discovered 
that  her  mental  powers  had  received  such  a 
shock,  that  she  was  rendered  incapable  of  at- 
tending to  her  family  concerns.  These  afflic- 
tive circumstances  led  her  parents  and  friends 
to  advise  her  being  removed  to  Hightstown. 
This  being  concluded  upon,  the  scene  of  my 
short  stay  with  this  church,  having  been 
something  less  than  two  years,  I  took  my 
leave  of  these  brethren,  with  a  warm  feeling 
for  their  prosperity,  and  I  believe  that  the 
same  feeling  was  reciprocated  by  them. 


AND  ELSEWHERE.  83 

I  now  became  resolved  never  to  take 
charge  of  a  church  again,  but  to  confine  my 
labors  to  occasional  preaching.  This  is  the 
course  I  have  pursued  ever  since.  My  wife 
lived  several  years  after  this,  but  did  not  re- 
cover her  right  mind,  until  a  few  months 
prior  to  her  death.  She  was  fully  prepared 
for  the  messenger  when  he  came,  and  I  have 
no  doubt  but  she  made  a  happy  exchange.  I 
am  now  living  with  my  third  wife,  Mary, 
daughter  of  Mr.  William  D.  Jewell. 

In  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-seven,  death 
again  entered,  and  made  another  call  in  the 
removal  of  my  youngest  daughter,  Mary 
Fielder,  leaving  four  children,  three  sons  and 
a  daughter,  to  mourn  her  loss.  I  have 
written  the  following  lines  upon  her  death  as 
expressive  of  the  deep  feelings  of  my  heart. 
"Blessed  are  the  dead  that  die  in  the  Lord!" 


0  dear  Mary,  thou  hast  left  us  ! 

Death  has  seized  thee  as  his  prey  ; 
Laid  thee  in  the  grave's  dark  dungeon, 

Till  the  resurrection  dav. 


84  LINES  TO  A  DAUGHTER. 

But  thy  soul  has  now  ascended, 

To  thy  Savior's  lovely  arms  ; 
There  with  him  to  live  forever  ; 

O  he  hath  ten  thousand  charms ! 

0  dear  Mary,  how  we  loved  thee ! 

0  how  hard  it  was  to  part ! 
0  to  brake  those  cords  asunder, 

That  did  bind  us,  one  in  heart ! 

But  I  hope  again  to  meet  thee, 

In  that  better  world  above  ; 
There,  to  join  the  saints  in  heaven. 

In  the  song,  redeeming  love. 

Yes,  dear  Mary,  I  will  meet  thee 
When  my  toils  on  earth  shall  cease  ; 

Yes,  we'll  meet  our  blessed  Savior, 
In  that  world  of  joy  and  peace. 

O,  thy  dying  groans,  dear  Mary, 
Melted  down  thy  Father's  heart ; 

When  no  mortal  arm  could  save  thee, 
Death  decreed  that  we  must  part. 

But  dear  Mary,  I  will  meet  thee, 
On  the  banks  of  Canaan's  shore  ; 

There  to  dwell  with  Christ  forever. 
There  to  meet  and  part  no  more. 

I  am  now  coming  to  the  close  of  my  nar- 
rative, which  brmgs  me  to  the  advanced  age 
of  seventy-seven  years.     Sixty  years  of  this 


CONCLUSION  OF  NARRATIVE.  85 

time,  I  have  been  a  professor  of  religion,  and 
fifty-four  years,  a  preacher  of  the  Gospel. 
It  has  been  my  wish  to  bring  my  thoughts, 
words,  and  actions  to  accord  with  my  Bible  ; 
but  alas !  after  all,  I  find  that  I  have  come 
far  short  of  my  duty,  and  can  say,  in  truth, 
that  I  have  been  an  unprofitable  servant ; 
and  I  regret  that  I  have  not  been  more  faith- 
ful to  my  Master's  service  ;  but  he  knows  his 
people's  weakness  and  imperfections,  which 
render  the  Christian,  at  times,  almost  unable 
to  endure  the  conflict,  in  which  he  is  engaged, 
with  the  combined  powers  of  darkness.  This 
led  the  Apostle  to  exclaim,  ''  0  wretched 
man  that  I  am,  w^ho  shall  deliver  me  from 
the  body  of  this  death  ?"  but  he  soon  found 
a  remedy  for  the  malady,  "I  thank  God, 
through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord."  This  is  the 
only  hope  of  the  Christian  in  life  and  in 
death.  The  Christian  may  here  rest,  as  upon 
a  solid  rock. 

And  now,  0  my  Father !  as  I  must  soon 
take  my  leave  of  the  church  and  the  world, 


86  MY  HEAVENLY  HOME. 

may  I  safely  pass  the  gloomy  valley  of  death, 
may  thy  rod  and  thy  staff  comfort  me,  and 
may  my  path  be  lighted,  by  the  breakmg 
forth  of  the  sun  of  righteousness,  that  I  may 
be  guided  safely  to  my  heavenly  home  ! 


MY  HEAVENLY  HOME  ANTICIPATED. 

Sweet  home,  sweet  home,  my  heavenly  home, 

AVhere  I  shall  be  at  rest ! 
Sweet  home,  where  I  shall  see  my  Lord, 

Sweet  home  of  all  the  blest ! 

Now  while  my  pen  moves  swiftly  on, 

I  feel  a  heaven  below  ; 
I'm  thinking  of  my  heavenly  home. 

Where  I  shall  shortly  go. 

Sweet  home,  to  dwell  where  Jesus  is, 
Where  all  the  saints  shall  meet, 

And  with  one  heart  and  voice  proclaim, 
The  bliss  to  be  complete  ! 

This  world,  this  world  is  not  my  home, 

I  have  no  portion  here  ; 
I  am  a  pilgrim  here  below, 

My  home  will  soon  appear. 


MY  HEAVENLY  HOME.  87 

Sweet  home,  sweet  home,  where  all  the  saints 

Sing  with  melodious  sound  ; 
And  not  a  jarring  note  is  heard 

Through  all  the  regions  round  ! 

As  saints  go  up  from  earth  to  heaven. 

They  join  the  heavenly  choir  ; 
The  song  of  Jesus'  dying  love 

Doth  every  heart  inspire. 

No  mortal  can  describe  the  joy 

Of  that  bright  world  above. 
Where  saints  and  angels  join  in  one, 

And  all  their  song  is  love. 

0  the  delight,  the  heavenly  joy, 

The  glory  of  that  place, 
"Where  we  shall  meet  our  blessed  Lord, 

And  see  him  face  to  face  ! 


If  a  few  drops  while  here  below. 

Can  so  transport  the  soul ; 
What  will  it  be,  when  we  get  home, 

AVhere  streams  in  torrents  roll  ? 

Shall  this  poor  sinful  soul  of  mine 
There  see  my  Savior's  face  ? 

Wash'd  from  ray  sins  in  his  own  blood  j 
This  will  be  wondrous  grace. 


88  MY  CONVERSION  IN  VERSE. 


MY  CONVERSION  IN  VERSE. 


Let  those  who  love  the  Savior's  name, 

Now  listen  while  I  tell, 
How  my  poor  soul  was  saved  from  death, 

While  near  the  gates  of  hell. 

When  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years, 

All  which  I'd  spent  in  sin, 
The  spirit  gave  me  light  divine 

To  see  how  vile  I'd  been. 

'Twas  on  a  night  when  I  did  hear 
A  man  blaspheme  God's  name, 

The  oath  struck  terror  to  my  soul 
So  dreadfully  profane. 

0  what  a  wretch,  I  thought,  was  he, 
Who  could  his  God  defy  ; 

Why  was  he  not  at  once  struck  dead, 
With  vengeance  from  on  high  ? 

But  soon  I  turned  my  eyes  within  ; 

0  what  did  I  there  see  ? 

1  saw  that  in  the  sight  of  God, 

1  was  as  vile  as  he. 

Then,  up  to  heaven  I  lift  my  eyes. 

And  horror  fill'd  my  soul ; 
For  Sinai's  mount  was  all  on  fire, 

I  heard  loud  thunders  roll. 


MY  CONVERSION  IN  VERSE.  89 


I  saw  tbe  justice  of  my  doom, 

Should  I  be  sent  to  hell ; 
I  would  pronounce  the  sentence  just, 

That  doomed  me  there  to  dwell. 

My  sins  that  I  had  long  forgot, 
Like  mountains  now  did  rise  ; 

They  call'd  for  vengeance  on  my  soul, 
Their  voice  did  reach  the  skies. 

My  guilt  appeared  to  me  so  great, 

I  thought  I  dare  not  pray  ; 
But  0,  my  burden  was  so  great, 

I  could  not  stay  away. 

I  read  my  Bible,  while  my  eyes 

Did  overflow  with  tears  ; 
But  not  a  word  could  I  there  find, 

But  to  increase  my  fears. 

I  read  of  Jesus  on  the  cross  ; 
For  sinners  he  did  die  ; 

0  can,  0  can  it  be  for  me. 
For  one  so  vile  as  I  ? 

Ten  tedious  days  I  spent  in  prayer, 
No  comfort  could  I  see  ; 

1  thought  that  now  my  doom  was  sure, 

No  hope  was  left  for  me. 

But  yet,  the  joyful  morning  came. 
That  shone  with  beams  so  bright. 

That  turned  my  mourning  into  joy, 
My  darkness  into  light. 


90 


MY  CONVERSION  IN  VERSE. 

My  Savior's  words,  while  on  the  mount, 
With  force  came  to  my  mind  ; 

"  Blessed  are  they  that  mourn,"  he  said, 
"  For  they  shall  comfort  find." 

No  mortal  can  describe  the  joy, 

The  rapture  and  delight ; 
I  thought,  had  I  an  Angel's  wings, 

To  heaven  I'd  take  my  flight. 

0  how  I  loved  my  blessed  Lord ! 
I  clasped  him  in  my  arms, 

1  saw,  at  once,  he  did  possess, 
More  than  ten  thousand  charms. 

0  what  a  change  my  soul  then  felt ! 
I,  who  was  so  undone, 

Now  in  my  Savior's  righteousness, 
More  spotless  than  the  sun. 

Old  things,  with  me,  had  passed  away, 

I  felt  that  all  was  new  ; 
New  joys,  new  comfort  in  my  soul. 

For  heaven  was  brought  to  view. 

New  scenes  of  wonder  and  delight, 
Where'er  I  cast  my  eyes ; 

1  saw  them  in  the  world  below, 
I  saw  them  in  the  skies. 

I  saw  them  in  the  house  of  God, 

For  'twas  a  heaven  below  ; 
I  saw  them  in  his  lovely  saints. 

And  I  with  them  did  go. 


MY  CONVERSION  IN  VERSE.  91 


I  went  rejoicing  on  my  way, 

And  told  to  sinners  round, 
That  Jesus  came  to  seek  and  save ; 

0  what  a  joyful  sound ! 

I  followed  now  my  blessed  Lord,' 

In  bis  delightful  way  ; 
O  may  I  ever  walk  therein. 

And  never,  never  stray ! 

* 
Dear  Savior,  be  my  cor^tant  guide, 

And  be  thou  always  nigh  ; 

Be  with  me  while  I  live  below, 

Be  with  me  when  I  die. 

And  when  I  lose  my  mortal  breath, 
And  all  my  powers  shall  fail, 

May  I,  by  faith,  then  conquer  death. 
And  in  thy  strength  prevail. 

Then  when  my  fiesh  shall  lay  interred, 
And  there  in  hope  shall  rest, 

O,  may  my  soul  then  dwell  with  thee. 
And  be  forever  bl-est  I 

In  heaven  delighted  there  to  see. 

Those  lovely  saints  of  old, 
Of  whom  the  Bible  speaks  so  much, 

Such  wonders  have  been  told. 

Some  who  may  see  and  read  these  lines, 

May  think  I  am  insane  ; 
While  others  read,  they  understand. 

For  they  have  felt  the  same. 


92  MY  CONVERSION  IN  VERSE. 

So  Festus  thought  that  Paul  was  mad, 

For  he  could  not  conceive 
How  such  strange  things  as  Paul  declared, 

A  sane  mind  would  believe. 

And  Nicodemus,  though  so  wise, 

Yet  he  could  not  explain. 
What  was  the  meaning  of  our  Lord, 

By  being  born  again. 

This  is  religion  from  above, 

Divine  in  every  part ; 
It  stamps  the  image  of  the  Lord, 

Upon  the  sinner  s  heart. 

The  heart  by  gi-ace  now  formed  anew. 
Good  fruit  must  soon  appear ; 

Our  lives  devoted  to  the  Lord, 
Flow  from  a  heart  sincere. 

The  Spirit's  quick'ning  power  can  change 

From  hatred  into  love ; 
Can  turn  the  lion  to  a  lamb, 

The  vulture  to  a  dove. 

How  many  talk  of  this  great  change, 
Yet  still  they  thoughtless  go  ; 

Trust  in  their  righteousness  to  save. 
Though  all  an  outward  show. 

What  multitudes  pursue  this  course, 

And  think  it  will  avail ; 
This  has  been  tried  in  every  age, 

And  always  found  to  fail. 


MY  CONYERSION  IN  VERSE.  93 

O  may  thy  servants  faithful  prove ! 

The  gospel  loud  proclaim, 
To  those  who  still  are  dead  in  sin, 

They  must  be  born  again. 

I'll  pray  for  Zion  while  I  live, 

With  her  I  love  to  meet, 
For  there  my  blessed  Lord  comes  down. 

To  make  our  meetings  sweet. 

My  seventy-seventh  year  now  has  past, 

My  old  companions  fled  ; 
They  gave  to  me  the  parting  hand, 

To  rest  among  the  dead. 

Now,  I  must  stay  my  father's  time, 

I  can  not  long  remain  ; 
If  I  get  home  to  heaven  at  last, 

Then  dying  will  be  gain. 


END   OF    THE   NARRATIVE. 


5* 


CHAPTER  YI. 

y/ORDS  OF  COMFORT  FOR  THE  AFFLICTED. 

On  taking  a  retrospective  view  of  a  long 
and  protracted  life  spent  as  a  professor  and 
minister  of  Christ,  in  which  I  have  found  a 
most  clear  exemplification  of  what  om^  Lord 
said  to  his  disciples,  "In  the  world  ye  shall 
have  tribulation  f  although  I  have  not  had  the 
experience  that  some  have  had,  of  the  difficul- 
ties attendant  on  a  professional  life  in  the 
cause  of  Christ,  yet  I  think  that  my  knowl- 
edge has  extended  so  far,  as  to  lead  me  to 
feel  a  deep  sympathy  for  those  of  the  people 
of  God  who  are  afflicted.  From  these  con- 
siderations, I  purpose  to  write  a  short  chap- 
ter, in  which  it  may  be,  that  some  remarks 
may  be  made,  calculated,  in  some  measure, 
to  soothe  the  sorrows  of  an  afflicted  mind  ;  yet 
this  will  depend  upon  God,  who  alone  can 
make  the  remarks  prove  beneficial. 

Afflictions,  my  brethren,  are  the  common 


TO  THE  AFFLICTED.  95 

lot  of  all;  SO  Job  says,  ''Man  that  is  born 
of  a  woman  is  of  few  days  and  full  of 
trouble.  He  is  born  unto  trouble  as  the 
sparks  fly  upward."  These  afflictions  are  of 
a  penal  character,  and  are  the  offspring  of 
a  sinful  and  corrupt  heart,  which  we  bring 
into  the  world  with  us,  and  into  which  the 
seeds  of  misery  have  been  incorporated  ;  and 
although  man  comes  forth  like  a  flower,  un- 
folding its  beauty,  yet  he  bears,  in  his  own 
nature,  the  impress  of  mortality.  Now  al- 
though afflictions  are  not  removed  from 
the  children  of  God,  still  they  no  longer 
remain  as  a  penal  evil,  or  as  an  expres- 
sion of  vindictive  wrath,  but  as  a  fatherly 
chastisement;  hence  Paul  says,  "whom 
the  Lord  loveth  he  chasteneth.  But  if  ye 
are  without  chastisment,  whereof  all  are 
partakers,  then  are  ye  bastards  and  not 
sons."  So  that  it  is  the  will  of  the  Lord, 
that  these  afflictions  should  not  be  removed. 
Paul  speaks  of  an  affliction  given  him,  one 
of  a  very   grievous   nature,  compared   to  a 


96  TO  THE  AFFLICTED. 

piercing  thorn  in  the  flesh,  ''  a  messenger 
of  Satan  to  buffet  him."  He  sought  the 
Lord  thrice,  that  it  might  depart  from  him  ; 
yet  his  prayers  could  not  be  answered,  for 
God  saw  that  to  remove  this  affliction  would 
prove  very  injurious  to  Paul ;  for  it  was 
found  among  the  ''all  things"  which  were 
to  work  for  his  good.  This  affliction  was 
to  serve  as  a  preventive  to  his  becoming 
''exalted  above  measure,  through  the  abund- 
ance of  the  revelations  given  to  him."  But 
God  gave  him  that  which  was  to  answer 
a  far  more  valuable  purpose;  "my  grace 
is  sufficient  for  thee,  for  my  strength  is 
made  perfect  in  weakness ;"  so  that  the 
Lord  bestowed  more  than  what  was  equiv- 
alent to  the  removal  of  the  affliction. 
Praying  is  not  in  vain,  after  all. 

The  children  of  God,  sometimes,  are 
ready  to  conclude  that  their  being  afflicted 
is  an  evidence  against  them,  and  thus  they 
write  bitter  things  against  themselves,  and 
are    ready   to    exclaim — "  can    it   be   that  a 


TO  THE  AFFLICTED.  97 

child  of  God  can  be  so  much  afflicted?" 
But  stop,  my  afflicted  brother  or  sister,  are 
you  in  the  constant  habit  of  reading  your 
Bible?  If  so,  you  must  have  overlooked 
what  Peter  says  in  relation  to  this  matter. 
Hark!  and  I  will  read  it  for  you.  "Think 
it  not  strange  concerning  the  fiery  trials, 
which  are  to  try  you,  as  though  some  strange 
thing  had  happened  unto  you.  But  rejoice, 
inasmuch  as  ye  are  partakers  of  Christ's 
sufferings,  that  when  his  glory  shall  be  re- 
vealed, ye  may  be  glad  also,  with  exceed- 
ing joy."  By  becoming  acquainted  with  the 
Bible,  we  soon  discover  that  afflictions  have 
been  the  common  lot  of  all  God's  people, 
in  every  age  of  the  world.  In  the  deal- 
ings of  God,  in  the  afflictions  of  his  people, 
he  does  not  act  as  we  sometimes  do,  hap- 
hazard ;  but  he  always  acts  in  reference 
to  some  very  important  end.  He  is  too 
wise  to  err,  and  too  good  to  be  unkind. 

We  may  think  it  strange,  that  God  should 
have  led  the  children  of  Israel  through  such 


98  TO  THE  AFFLICTED. 

a  roundabout  way,  —  a  difficult  and  dan- 
gerous way ; — and  yet,  it  was  the  right  way, 
and  any  other  way,  no  doubt,  would  have 
proved  fatal.  In  this  way,  they  saw  a  rich 
display  of  the  wisdom  and  power  of  God, 
at  the  Red  Sea.  Indeed,  throughout  the 
whole  journey  of  the  Jews,  from  Egypt  to 
Canaan,  is  most  strikingly  symbolized  the 
Christian's  experience,  from  the  time  of  his 
conversion  to  the  faith  of  the  Gospel,  until 
he  is  taken  to  heaven.  Although  Israel  saw 
so  many  signal  displaj^s  of  the  goodness  and 
power  of  God,  in  delivering  them  from 
their  bondage  in  Egypt ;  dividing  the  waters 
of  the  Red  Sea  ;  forming  a  cloud,  resem- 
bling a  pillar,  to  pass  between  them  and 
their  enemies ;  this  pillar  being  a  bright 
light  to  Israel,  but  to  the  Egyptians  dark- 
ness and  confusion  that  caused  their  des- 
truction, the  waters  closing  in  upon  them, 
while  Israel  was  found  on  the  opposite 
bank,  singing  a  song  of  praise  to"^  God  for 
their  great  deliverance. 


TO  THE  AFFLICTEP.  99 

N'otwithstanding  all  that  they  had  seen  of 
the  wonderful  display  of  Divme  goodness, 
and  so  fully  expressed  in  their  song  of 
praise,  yet  they  had  passed  but  three  days' 
journey  in  the  wilderness,  before  they  be- 
gan to  murmur  against  Moses  and  Aaron ; 
and  on  every  trivial  occasion,  the  same  in- 
gratitude was  manifested,  against  God,  their 
kind  benefactor,  who  had  done  such  great 
things  for  them.  If  they  could  have  un- 
derstood the  end  that  God  intended  should 
be  accomplished  by  their  aflEictions,  and  the 
manner  in  which  they  were  to  be  deliv- 
ered, it  would  have  put  an  end  to  their 
murmuring.  But  we  must  perceive  that  all 
these  murmurings  were  the  offspring  of  un- 
belief ;  a  want  of  a  full  confidence  in  the  ve- 
racity of  God's  word,  which  was  delivered 
to  them  by  Moses  ;  and  at  the  same  time, 
they  had  been  favored  with  abundant  evi- 
dence to  confirm  their  faith  in  the  good- 
ness, faithfulness,  wisdom,  and  power  of 
God,    to  fulfill  every  promise  he  had  made. 


100  TO  THE  AFFLICTED. 

by  the  mouth  of  Moses.  This  was  their 
great  sin,  that  they  had  rejected  all  those  ev- 
idences, which  their  own  eyes  had  witnessed, 
in  the  plagues  sent  upon  the  Egyptians, 
and  their  destruction  in  the  Red  Sea. 
They  had  witnessed  also,  their  own  deliv- 
erance from  their  enemies.  They  also  had 
the  pillar  of  cloud  by  day,  to  shelter  them 
from  the  scorching  sun,  and  by  night  to 
lighten  their  camp.  All  these  were  striking 
evidences,  that  Grod  would  accomplish  every 
gracious  promise,  in  reference  to  his  people, 
and  that  all  their  afflictions  must  work  to- 
gether for  their  good,  for  ''tribulation  work- 
eth  patience,  and  patience,  experience,  and 
experience,  hope,  and  hope  maketh  not 
ashamed,  because  the  love  of  God  is  shed 
abroad  in  our  hearts  by  the  Holy  Ghost, 
which  is  given  unto  us." 

However,  I  think  that  it  is  a  very  com- 
mon thing,  for  Christians  to  magnify  their 
afflictions.  In  this  case,  it  might  be  profit- 
able for  us,   to    examine   the    experience  of 


TO  THE  AFFLICTED.  101 

some  of  those  holy  men  of  God,  recorded 
in  the  Bible.  This,  perhaps,  may  have  a 
tendency  to  give  us  a  more  correct  estimate, 
as  to  the  magnitude  of  our  own  afflictions. 
The  first  case  that  I  shall  refer  to,  is  that 
of  Job,  in  whom  we  see  a  very  striking 
example  of  the  power  of  faith.  From  the 
description  which  God  has  given  of  Job  in 
his  word,  he  must  have  been  a  very  pious 
man.  He  styles  him  "his  servant,  a  per- 
fect and  upright  man."  However,  we  are 
not  to  understand,  by  this  phraseology,  that 
Job  had  arrived  to  a  state  of  sinless  per- 
fection, for  there  is  not  a  man  that  liveth 
and  sinneth  not.  That  state  of  perfect  holi- 
ness is  only  attainable  in  that  glorified  state, 
where  the  just  are  made  perfect  in  heaven. 
There  are  two  ways  in  which  this  phrase 
is  made  use  of  in  the  Bible,  in  reference 
to  the  people  of  God,  w^hile  in  their  pres- 
ent state  of  imperfection. 

The  first  that  I  shall  name  is  that  which 
they  receive  by  their  union  with  Christ,  as 


102  TO  THE  AFFLICTED. 

their  head  and  representative,  being  made 
perfect  in  him,  not  having  on  their  own  right- 
eousness, which  is  of  the  law,  but  the  right- 
eousness which  is  by  faith  in  Jesus  Christ. 
In  this,  they  will  stand  justified  before  the 
throne,  \t  the  last  day.  The  second  case  is  a 
comparative  perfection,  which  arises  from 
those  holy  principles  implanted  in  the  soul, 
in  the  work  of  regeneration.  These  heavenly 
principles  so  operate,  both  upon  the  mind  and 
actions  of  men,  as  to  bring  them  into  a  sweet 
conformity  to  the  will  of  God.  Still,  the 
seeds  of  sin  are  so  deeply  rooted  in  our  na- 
tures, that  sin  can  not  be  fully  and  finally 
eradicated,  until  the  soul,  like  the  pure  grain, 
separated  from  its  chaff  and  noxious  weeds, 
shall  be  gathered  into  the  heavenly  garner  of 
the  Lord.  Until  this  is  the  case,  it  becomes 
all-important  that  the  Christian  make  use  of 
every  precaution,  lest  the  weeds  of  sin  be 
permitted  to  overgrow  those  heavenly  plants 
of  grace,  and  thus  prevent  the  unfolding  of 
their  beauty  to  the   eye  of  a  gazing  world. 


TO  THE  AFFLICTED.  103 

N"ow,  as  to  the  perfection  which  God  as- 
cribes to  Job,  no  more  seems  to  be  intended 
than  that  he  was  eminently  pious,  above  all 
in  his  day.  This  I  think,  must  appear  obvi- 
ous from  what  the  Lord  said,  "Satan,  hast 
thou  considered  my  servant  Job,  that  there 
is  none  like  him  in  the  earth,  a  perfect  and 
upright  man,  one  that  feareth  God,  and  that 
escheweth  evil?"  Job  was  a  very  fit  subject 
for  Satan  to  try  his  skill  upon, — not  only  a 
pious  man,  but  a  great  man, — and  of  such 
wisdom,  that  his  counsel  was  sought  after  by 
many  of  his  day,  and  confided  in,  as  being 
perfectly  safe.  He  also  abounded  in  wealth, 
and  had  a  large  family  of  children,  to  share 
with  him  in  his  riches.  But  alas,  for  poor 
Job  !  for  Satan  hated  and  envied  him,  on  ac- 
count of  his  happiness  and  prosperity,  and  at 
once  devised  a  plan  for  his  destruction,  by  one 
dreadful  crash.  One  servant  after  another 
approached  him,  with  the  sad  tidings  that  the 
fire,  the  sword,  and  tempest,  had  reduced  him 
to  poverty,  and  had  rendered  him  childless. 


104  TO  THE  AFFLICTED. 

Now,  my  afflicted  brother,  what  think  you 
of  .the  afflictions  of  this  faithful  servant  of 
God?  How  often  you  have  been  writing 
bitter  things  against  yourself,  and  thinking 
that  you  could  not  be  a  child  of  God  ;  for  if 
so,  you  would  not  have  had  to  suffer  so  many 
weighty  afflictions.  Are  you  disposed  to 
bring  them  forward,  and  place  them  in  the 
balance  with  Job's  ?  If  you  are  thus  dis- 
posed, it  may  afford  you  great  relief,  for  you 
will  find  that  his  afflictions  were  so  ponderous, 
that  yours  would  appear  like  the  dust  of  the 
balance,  and  at  once  cease  to  be  a  burden. 
But  let  us  examine  the  subject  a  little  fur- 
ther, and  see  how  these  afflictions  operated 
upon  the  mind  of  Job.  They  had  a  tendency 
to  humble  him  in  the  dust.  He  fell  upon  the 
ground,  and  worshiped,  and  said,  ''naked 
came  I  out  of  my  mother's  womb,  and  naked 
shall  I  return  thither  ;  the  Lord  gave,  and 
the  Lord  hath  taken  away,  and  blessed  be 
the  name  of  the  Lord."  Here  we  see,  that 
Satan  found,  that  Job's  faith  was  more  than  a 
match  for  his  diabolical  purpose. 


TO  THE  AFFLICTED.  105 

Job's  faith  was  much  stronger  than  Satan 
had  anticipated,  for  ''in  all  this  Job  sinned 
not,  nor  charged  God  foolishly."  He  gained 
the  conquest,  by  faith  in  his  living  Redeemer. 
0  blessed  religion  of  the  Bible !  what  canst 
thou  not  do  in  sustaining  the  heirs  of  salva- 
tion, though  strip23ed  of  all  earthly  comforts, 
and  canst  even  cause  them  to  sing,  while 
burning  at  the  stake.  The  well  of  living 
water  within  the  Christian,  is  too  deep  to  be 
drained  by  all  the  powers  of  darkness  com- 
bined together  ;  it  must  and  will  continue  to 
spring  up  into  everlasting  life.  The  afflic- 
tions of  Job  do  not  appear  to  be  so  much  in- 
tended as  a  fatherly  correction,  as  for  the 
trial  of  his  faith,  which,  being  much  more 
precious  than  gold,  it  being  intended  to  con- 
firm the  faith  of  the  afflicted  in  after  ages  ; 
and  it  would  be  well  for  us,  my  afflicted 
brother,  to  receive  a  lesson  of  instruction 
from  the  sentiments,  to  which  Job  gave  utter- 
ance, and  seek  to  cultivate  the  same  temper 
of  mind ;  it  being  highly  commendable,  and 


106  TO  THE  AFFLICTED. 

will  be  sure  to  meet  with  the  approbation  of 
heaven. 

Let  us  further  remark,  that  although  Satan 
met  with  such  a  powerful  repulse,  in  his  first 
attack  upon  Job,  yet  he  did  not  appear  to  be 
satisfied  with  one  attempt  to  destroy  Job's 
faith ;  but  gets  permission  to  make  another 
trial,  with  the  restriction,  that  his  life  was  to 
be  secured.  Satan  now  pursues  a  plan  of 
which,  he  expressed  himself  in  the  most  posi- 
tive terms,  that  it  would  successful.  Poor 
Job  was  about  to  receive  another  blast  from 
the  terrible  one,  for  Satan  smote  him  witli 
sores,  from  the  sole  of  his  foot  to  his  crown  ; 
still  he  was  not  heard  to  murmur  against 
God.  Satan  now,  no  doubt,  began  to  feel 
fearful,  that  he  was  about  to  be  foiled  in  this, 
his  second  attempt ;  he  now  solicits  the  aid 
of  Job's  wife,  in  hope  that  she  might,  by  her 
influence,  succeed  in  producing  the  effect 
which,  he  had  declared  would  be  the  result, 
in  case  that  the  Lord  should  afiiict  Job,  in  his 
flesh  and  his  bones.     This  plan  of  Satan,  like 


TO  THE  AFFLICTED.  107 

the  former,  proved '  abortive,  for  when  Job's 
wife  said  to  her  husband,  "  curse  God,  and 
die,''  he  at  once  reproved  her,  by  saying, 
''thou  speakest  as  one  of  the  foohsh  women 
speakest.  What,  shall  we  receive  good  at 
the  hand  of  God,  and  shall  we  not  receive 
evil?  In  all  this  Job  sinned  not  with  his 
lips.'^  Here  Job  gains  another  triumph  over 
the  powers  of  darkness. 

Let  us  now^  for  a  moment,  notice  the  tem- 
per of  mind  manifested  by  Job,  throughout 
the  heaviest  of  his  afflictions.  It  is  not  to  be 
considered  entire  submission  to  the  will  of 
God,  but  it  amounts  to  the  highest  degree  of 
resignation,  and  it  justifies  God,  in  all  that  he 
had  done._  This  duty  is  one  of  the  most  im- 
portant, and  most  difficult,  that  faith  is  called 
upon  to  perform.  'Not  that  this  duty  is  hard 
to  be  understood,  for  a  person  of  but  a  lim- 
ited knowledge,  may  comprehend  the  mean- 
ing of  this  duty,  but  the  difficulty  lays  in  re- 
ducing it  to  practice,  on  account  of  the 
repugnance  which  nature  feels,  to  all  descrip- 


108  TO  THE  AFFLICTED. 

tion  of  sufferings.  But  Job's  faith  was  all- 
powerful,  acting  upon  the  impulse  of  the  soul, 
overcoming  every  opposition  of  the  natural 
disposition,  which  may  be  brought  to  bear, 
against  the  will  of  God.  This  is  the  faith 
that  has  its  origin  from  heaven,  works  by 
love,  purifies  the  heart,  and  overcomes  the 
world  ;  it  gives  confidence  to  the  Christian, 
hence  says  Job,  ' '  though  he  slay  me  yet  will 
I  trust  in  him." 

The  apostle  Paul  tells  us  that  ''no  afflic- 
tion,"— whether  it  be  intended  as  chasten- 
ing or  for  the  trial  of  our  faith, — "  is,  for  the 
present,  joyous  but  grievous,  yet  afterward  it 
worketh  the  peaceable  fruits  of  righteousness, 
to  them  that  are  exercised  thereby  ;"  conse- 
quently, we  must  perceive,  that  afflictions  are 
not  to  be  so  much  dreaded,  after  all ;  for  they 
must  all,  in  the  end,  work  for  good  to  those 
who  love  God.  Hence,  says  Job,  "when  he 
hath  tried  me,  I  shall  come  forth  as  gold." 
God  will  not  keep  us  any  longer  in  the  cruci- 
ble, than  is  really  needful  to  remove  those 


TO  THE  AFFLICTED.  109 

imperfections,  which  might  prove  injmious  to 
us  as  Christians.  I  have  looked  upon  afflic- 
tion as  a  high  school,  in  which  we  are  taught 
some  of  the  higher  branches  of  our  religious 
education.  Our  Father  is  not  satisfied  that 
his  children's  knowledge  should  remain  lim- 
ited to  the  elementary  part  of  their  studies, 
but  intends  they  should  advance  until  they 
may  become  so  far  proficient,  as  to  become 
teachers  in  Israel. 

In  this  school,  Job  was  instructed  in  some 
of  the  most  important  principles  of  divine 
knowledge.  What  he  had  learned  prior  to 
his  entering  this  school,  was  correct,  so  far  as 
he  had  advanced  ;  but  when  his  mind  began 
to  expand,  he  saw  the  Holy  one  in  a  light,  in 
which  he  had  never  seen  him  before  ;  for  says 
he,  "I  have  heard  of  thee  by  the  hearing  of 
the  ear,  but  now  mine  eye  seeth  thee,  w^here- 
fore  I  abhor  myself,  and  repent  in  dust  and 
ashes."  The  Lord  had  made  such  a  wonder- 
ful display  of  his  glory  to  Job,  during  his  af- 
fliction, and  light  had  been  so  clearly  diffused 
6 


110  TO  THE  AFFLICTED. 

into  liis  mind,  that  liis  hearing  of  God  was 
exchanged  to  seeing  him  ;  that  is,  he  had  re- 
ceived a  more  full  discovery  of  the  glorious 
attributes  of  the  Deit}^  reflecting  clear  light 
into  his  mind,  and  opening  to  his  view  the 
total  depravity  of  human  nature  ;  and  this 
led  him  to  abhor  himself,  and  repent  in  dust 
and  ashes.  The  same  is  felt  by  every  pious 
soul. 

This  is  what  caused  Paul  to  exclaim,  "0 
wretched  man  that  I  am,  who  shall  deliver 
me  from  the  body  of  this  death?''  There  is 
nothing  short  of  the  blood  of  Cln^ist,  Job's 
living  Redeemer,  that  can  cleanse  us  from  this 
pollution  of  sin.  If  we  wish  our  bitter  cup  of 
affliction  made  sweet,  we  must  apply  to  our 
divine  Master  for  the  consolation  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  whose  ofiice  it  is  to  apply  the  consol- 
ing promises  of  the  Grospel.  This  can  so 
change  the  waters  of  Marah,  as  to  cause  them 
to  become  sweet  and  palatable  to  the  taste, 
so  that  we  can  say  with  the  Apostle,  that  ''  our 
lidit  affliction  which  is  but  for  a  moment, 


TO  THE  AFFLICTED.  Ill 

worketh  for  us  a  far  more  exceeding  and 
eternal  weight  of  glory."  Here  we  see,  that 
faith  and  patience  are  made  to  triumph,  be- 
cause they  look  ' '  not  at  the  things  which  are 
seen,  but  at  the  things  which  are  not  seen, 
and  which  are  eternal."  But  how  are  the 
afflictions  of  the  saints  rendered  light? 
First,  by  comprehending  fully  the  important 
end  to  be  answered  by  them.  Job  had  ac- 
quired some  knowledge  of  this  matter,  when 
he  expressed  his  views,  in  relation  to  this 
matter;  for  he  says,  "when  he  hath  tried 
me,  I  shall  come  forth  as  gold."  He  saw 
that  his  afflictions  were  not  intended  for  his 
destruction,  but  to  prepare  him  to  receive 
some  of  the  richest  blessings  of  heaven  ;  for 
we  are  told,  that  "the  Lord  blessed  the  latter 
end  of  Job  more  than  the  beginning,"  he 
having  greatly  increased  in  riches,  and  the 
same  number  of  children  given  him  ;  and  he 
lived  to  see  his  children's  children,  to  the 
fourth  generation  ;  and  being  old  and  full  of 
da3^s,  he  died,  being  well  prepared  to  be  num- 


112  TO  THE  AFFLICTED. 

bered  among  those,  of  whom  it  is  said,  "  these 
are  they  that  came  out  of  great  tribulation 
and  washed  their  robes  and  made  them  white 
in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb/' 

We  now  pass  to  our  second  remark,  to 
show  how  afflictions,  so  ponderous  in  their 
native  character,  can  become  light.  This 
may  be  accomplished  by  the  invisible  agency 
of  the  Spirit,  sustaining  both  body  and  mind, 
so  as  to  render  us  strong  in  the  Lord  and  in 
the  power  of  his  might.  In  this  case,  a 
heavy  burden  becomes  light.  Let  God  but 
speak  to  the  poor  weak  Christian,  borne 
down  with  the  trials  of  life,  as  he  did  to  Paul, 
"my  grace  is  sufficient  for  thee,  my  strength 
is  made  perfect  in  thy  weakness  ;"  and  this  is 
all  that  is  needed,  to  make  the  burden  light. 
Nevertheless,  there  is  another  consideration, 
that  renders  our  afflictions  light  ;  they  being 
of  so  short  a  duration,  compared  to  a  mo- 
ment. A  man  may  bear  up  under  a  very 
heavy  load  for  a  short  time,  without  much 
difficulty  ;  but  if  it  should  continue  for  a  long 


TO  THE  AFFLICTED.  113 

time,  he  would  sink  under  it ;  but  our  afflic- 
tions are  compared  to  a  moment,  which  will 
soon  pass  away,  so  that  we  can  bear  them 
with  ease,  and  should  not  murmur,  but  exer- 
cise patience  ;  for  life  will  soon  pass  away 
like  a  shadow.  Then,  the  glory  of  heaven 
will  be  revealed  to  the  wondering  soul,  like  a 
bird  let  out  of  the  cage,  and  flying  at  large, 
to  behold  that  glory,  to  express  which,  even 
the  learned  Apostle  found  it  difficult  to  select 
a  term,  sufficiently  expressive. 

We  have  now,  my  afflicted  brother,  taken 
a  retrospective  view  of  the  afflictions  of  Job, 
that  eminent  servant  of  God.  Have  we  not 
come  to  the  conclusion,  that  his  suffering,  as 
well  as  his  faith  and  patience,  were  almost, 
if  not  quite  unparalleled?  Here,  our  faith 
was  brought  almost  to  a  stand,  to  know  how 
to  reconcile  the  dealings  of  God,  in  laying 
his  hand  of  affliction,  so  heavily,  upon  so 
good  a  man,  with  the  character  given  of  him 
in  the  Bible,  as  being  most  kind  and  fatherly 
to  his   people.      But  in  tracing   the   matter 


114  TO  THE  AFFLICTED. 

through,  we  found  that  the  diJSiculty  was  en- 
tirely removed,  to  our  satisfaction.  If  we 
were  totally  unacquainted  with  the  process  of 
refining  metals,  we  might  think  it  a  very  bad 
policy,  for  a  refiner  to  cast  his  gold  into  the 
red  hot  crucible,  we  might  think  that  it  was 
intended  for  its  destruction  ;  but  a  little  pa- 
tience removes  our  misapprehension  ;  we  see 
that  not  a  particle  of  the  gold  is  destroyed, 
and  yet  all  its  impurity  is  removed ;  so  that 
in  the  end,  it  shines  with  greater  brilliancy. 
God  knows  what  is  best  for  us  in  order  to 
prepare  us  for  the  blessings  he  has  in  store 
for  us. 

How  far  the  foregoing  remarks  may  have 
operated  upon  your  mind,  to  reconcile  you  to 
bear  the  afflictions,  which  your  heavenly 
Father  has  seen  fit  to  place  upon  you,  I  can 
not  say  ;  but  as  for  myself,  I  think  the  reflec- 
tions have  proved  profitable  ;  for  they  have 
led  me,  through  the  blessing  of  God,  to  feel  a 
strong  desire,  to  be  governed  by  the  same 
holy  temper  of  mind,  so  eminently  displayed 


TO  THE  AFFLICTED.  115 

by  Job,  that  faithful  and  beloved  servant  of 
God. 

My  afflicted  brother,  I  had  so  shaped  my 
foregoing  remarks,  as  to  close  with  the  last 
sentence,  lest  I  should  intrude  upon  your  pa- 
tience ;  but  upon  further  reflection,  I  have 
concluded  to  refer  you  to  some  other  cases,  in 
which  God  has  overruled  the  afflictions  of  his 
people  for  their  good.  In  so  doing,  let  me 
call  your  attention  to  the  afflictions  of  the 
Patriarch  Jacob.  Although  his  afflictions  do 
not  appear  to  have  been  as  weighty  as  those 
of  Job,  yet  I  have  no  doubt  that,  to  him,  they 
were  equally  so  ;  for  it  does  not  so  much  de- 
pend upon  the  nature  of  the  afflictions,  as  it 
does  upon  our  being  prepared  to  meet  them. 
For  instance,  fifty  men  in  a  strong  fortress, 
might  bid  defiance  to  five  hundred  who  might 
attempt  to  assault  them  ;  so  it  is  with  a  ser- 
vant of  God,  if  he  is  found,  when  trials  over- 
take him,  standing  behind  the  strong  fortifica- 
tion of  faith,  hope,  and  patience,  he,  like  Job, 
can  triumph  over  them.     But,  alas  for  poor 


116  TO  THE  AFFLICTED. 

Jacob !  he  having  apprehended  no  danger, 
was  thrown  off- his  guard,  and  he  ventured 
out  into  the  open  field,  and  by  so  doing,  he 
received  a  wound  from  which  he  did  not 
recover,  for  many  days. 

The  history  of  Jacob  and  his  family  pre- 
sents before  us  a  subject  of  a  most  inter- 
esting character  ;  especially  as  it  relates  to 
Joseph,  who  was  to  become  the  savior  of 
his  parents  and  his  brethren,  together  with 
the  Egyptians,  from  the  famine  that  was 
to  spread  over  the  land.  Throughout  this 
eventful  circumstance,  we  discover  a  most 
wonderful  display  of  the  wisdom  and  power 
of  God,  in  overruling  the  wickedness  of 
Joseph's  brethren,  in  selling  him  to  the 
Ishmaelite  merchants,  for  about  ten  dollars 
and  twenty-two  cents,  to  become  a  slave  in 
Egypt,  in  order  to  bring  about  one  of  the 
most  happy  events  that  had  ever  transpired, 
in  relation  to  his  family.  However,  all  this 
being  hid  from  poor  old  Jacob's  mind,  con- 
secjuently   it   could    not    have   had    any   in- 


TO  THE  AFFLICTED.  117 

fluence  in  consoling  him  under  his  afflic- 
tions ;  for  he  verily  believed  that  his  son 
Joseph  was  dead,  and  that  wild  beasts  had 
devoured  him ;  the  circumstantial  evidences 
were  so  plain,  as  to  put  the  matter  beyond 
the  least  reasonable  doubt.  However,  if 
Jacob's  faith  had  been  as  strong  as  that  of 
Job,  he  would  not  have  made  use  of  such 
despairing  language  as  he  uttered,  when  he 
said,  "I  will  go  down  into  the  grave  unto 
my   son  mourning.'' 

This  language  seems  to  indicate  a  want  of 
full  confidence  in  God,  and  is  unlike  that 
of  Job,  who  said,  "if  he  slay  me,  I  will 
trust  in  him."  However,  my  brother,  it  ill 
becomes  us  to  censure  the  old  patriarch  ; 
for  should  we  be  placed  in  similar  circum- 
stances, it  would  put  our  faith  to  such 
a  stand,  that  I  fear  that  our  language 
would  not  be  more  honorable  to  our  relig- 
ious character,  than  his  was  ;  especially,  if 
we  take  the  whole  matter  into  consideration. 
Joseph  was  the  son  of  his  old  age,  and  the 

G* 


118  TO  THE  AFFLICTED. 

son  of  his  beloved  Rachel,  and  from  the 
prophetic  visions  with  which  he  was  favored, 
and  in  which  a  clear  indication  was  given, 
that  he  was  to  take  a  high  stand  in  his 
father's  family  ;  as  they  were  all  to  bow  in 
reverence  to  him,  and  as  the  old  man  now 
believed  that  Joseph  was  dead,  and  conse- 
quently that  these  visions  were  a  delusion. 
This,  no  doubt,  had  a  tendency  to  stagger 
his  faith,  and  thus  open  the  floodgates  of 
sorrow  upon  his  mind,  causing  him  to  sink 
under  the  burden,  refusing  to  be  comforted. 
However,  he  found  in  the  sequel,  that  al- 
though "weeping  may  endure  for  a  night, 
joy  Cometh  in  the  morning."  So  it  was  with 
Jacob,  for  when  he  saw  the  wagons  which 
Joseph  had  sent  to  convey  him  and  his  family 
to  Egypt,  the  old  man's  heart  was  revived, 
and  he  said,  "  it  is  enough,  Joseph  is  alive  ; 
I  will  go  and  see  him  before  I  die." 

N"ow,  my  brother,  I  would  say  to  you, 
what  a  long  life  experience  has  taught  me, 
that  it  is  best  for  us  to  try  to  become  rec- 


TO  THE  AFFLICTED.  119 

onciled  to  the  will  of  God,  in  all  the  afflic- 
tions he  may  see  fit  to  send  upon  us,  and 
thus  let  patience  have  its  perfect  work.  God 
has  some  good  purpose  to  be  answered,  by 
our  afflictions.  Sometimes,  they  are  in- 
tended to  reclaim  our  wandering  steps. 
Hence,  said  David,  ''  before  I  was  afflicted 
I  went  astray,  but  now  I  have  kept  thy 
word.'"'  Sometimes  it  is  to  try  our  faith,  as 
it  is  said  that  "  God  tempted  (or  tried)  Abra- 
ham" ;  that  is,  he  put  his  faith  to  the  test, 
by  commanding  him  to  offer  up  his  son  Isaac, 
as  a  sacrifice.  Abraham  did  not  stand  to 
argue  the  point  ;  but  without  a  murmuring 
word,  went  in  obedience  to  the  command 
of  God,  and  when  he  was  raising  his  hand 
to  strike  the  fatal  blow,  his  hand  was  stayed, 
the  power  of  faith  had  triumphed.  God  had 
prepared  a  substitute,  a  ram  caught  by  the 
horns,  in  the  thicket.  Thus  Abraham's  faith 
was  sufficiently  tried,  it  being  the  purpose 
of  his  heart,  to  do  what  God  had  com- 
manded, however  trying  to  his  feelings,  and 


120  TO  THE  AFFLICTED.    • 

however  difficult  it  might  be,  to  reconcile 
the  act  with  the  promise  which  God  had 
made,  in  relation  to  his  son  Isaac.  Thus 
his  faith  predominated  when  there  was  no 
hope  arising  from  natural  causes ;  for  he 
knew  that  as  Isaac  was  given  to  him  by 
a  supernatural  power,  so  by  the  same  power 
he  could  be  raised  from  the  dead.  Hence 
we  see,  that  Abraham  is  set  forth  in  the 
Bible  as  our  exemplar,  and  father  of  all 
them  that  believe. 

Let  us  learn  then,  while  suffering  under 
affliction,  to  put  our  trust  in  God,  do  our 
duty,  and  leave  the  event  with  him.  This 
it  is  true,  is  a  very  hard  lesson  to  learn. 
Still,  it  is  of  the  greatest  importance  that 
we  should  learn  it.  David  found  it  hard,  at 
times,  to  calm  the  tumultuous  passions  of  his 
mind.  We  hear  him  exclaiming  on  one  occa- 
sion, "deep  calleth  unto  deep  at  the  noise 
of  thy  water  spouts,  all  thy  waves  and  thy 
billows  have  gone  over  me."  Hear  the  lan- 
guage of  Jeremiah,    "Is  it   nothing   to  you 


TO  THE  AFFLICTED.  121 

all  ye  that  pass  by,  behold  and  see  if  there 
be  any  sorrow  like  imto  my  sorrow,  which 
is  done  unto  me,  wherewith  the  Lord  hath 
afflicted  me  in  the  day  of  his  fierce  anger/' 
It  is  right  we  should  feel  the  rod,  and  con- 
fess our  sins,  and  mourn  over  them,  forsak- 
ing every  appearance  of  evil,  that  we  may 
be  found  the  faithful  servants  of  him  who 
bore  our  sins  in  his  own  body  on  the  tree. 
Let  us  examine,  for  a  moment,  as  to  the 
nature  and  extent  of  our  afflictions.  Were 
we  once  rich,  abounding  in  wealth,  and  have 
we  now  become  reduced,  and  become  poor? 
This,  we  well  know  is  very  trying  to  the 
natural  feelings  ;  but  have  we  forgotten 
what  was  said  of  our  blessed  Lord,  that  "he 
who  was  rich,  became  poor,  that  we,  through 
his  poverty,  might  be  made  rich"  ?  Have 
we  been  reduced  so  low,  that  we  had  no 
bed  to  lie  upon  ?  This  was  the  case  with 
our  Lord;  for  said  he,  ''The  foxes  have 
holes,  and  the  birds  of  the  air  have  nests, 
but  the  Son  of  man  "hath  not  where  to  lay 


122  TO  THE  AFFLICTED. 

liis  head."  These  reflections  may  have  a  ten- 
dency to  hghten  our  burdens.  Are  we 
ready  to  say  with  Jeremiah,  "was  there 
ever  sorrow  like  my  sorrow?"  Our  Lord's 
sorrows  were  far  greater  ;  he  was  ' '  a  man  of 
sorrows,  and  acquainted  with  grief.  He  was 
led  as  a  lamb  to  the  slaughter,  and  as  a 
sheep  dumb  before  her  shearer,  so  opened 
he  not  his  mouth."  Let  us,  therefore,  "con- 
sider him  who  endured  such  contradiction  of 
sinners  against  himself,  lest  we  be  weary 
and  faint  in  our  minds,"  bearing  our  afflic- 
tions with  patience  ;  for,  "if  we  suffer  with 
him,  we  shall  also  reign  with  him." 


THE  pilgrim's  PATHWAY.  123 


THE  PILGRIM'S  PATHWAY. 


This  is  a  world  of  trouble,  I  now  am  passing  through  ; 

And  as  I  am  a  pilgrim,  my  journey  I'll  pursue; 

My  path  is  full  of  dangers,  beset  on  every  hand, 

I,  through  this  way  must  travel,  to  Canaan's  happy  laud. 

Although  so  many  centuries  have  gone  their  rapid  round. 
No  other  way  to  heaven  has  ever  yet  been  found ; 
The  patriarchs  and  prophets  to  us  do  plainly  say, 
We  can  not  go  to  heaven  in  any  other  way. 

Both  Christ  and  his  Apostles  through  tribulation  came, 
And  all  the  saints  in  heaven  have  had  to  do  the  same ; 
0  let  us  then  take  courage,  and  on  our  way  pursue ; 
This  is  the  way  to  heaven,  we  now  are  passing  through. 

'Tis  Jesus,  our  great  leader,  has  mark'd  the  path  we  tread, 
And  gives  us  bread  from  heaven,  by  which  our  souls  are  fed  ; 
He  is  the  cloudy  pillar,  that  lights  our  path  around. 
While  in  the  path  of  sinners  no  light  can  there  be  found. 

He  is  the  rock  of  Horeb,  from  whence  the  waters  flow. 
To  satisfy  our  thirstings,  while  traveling  here  below. 
The  wicked  are  determined  to  bring  us  to  a  stand. 
But  we  will  set  our  faces  for  Canaan's  happy  land. 


124  THE  PILGRIM'S  PATIIW'AY. 


The  Jordan  lies  before  us,  its  stream  we  must  pass  through, 

Let  us^  be  up  aad  going,  and  on  our  way  pursue  ; 

Soon  Jesus  will  give  orders,  the  waters  to  divide, 

Then  we  will  pass  the  Jordan,  and  land  on  Canaan's  side. 


There  we  shall  meet  those  pilgrims,  once  burning  at  the  stake, 
Because  they  loved  the  Savior,  and  would  not  him  forsake  ; 
There  we  shall  dwell  with  Jesus,  his  songs  of  praise  repeat, 
0  then,  my  brother  pilgrim,  our  bliss  will  be  complete. 


We'll  talk  no  more  of  trials,  we  meet  from  day  to  day ; 
We'll  bear  them  all  with  patience,  they  soon  will  pass  away. 
Our  days,  you  know,  are  numbered,  we  have  no  time  to  stay, 
Our  journey  may  be  ended,  before  another  day. 


CHAPTER  YII. 

TO  PROFESSING  CHKISTIANS.— IMPORTANCE   OF  PER- 
SONAL PIETY. 

My  remarks,  throughout  this  chapter,  will 
be  devoted  to  the  importance  of  personal 
piety.  This  subject  should  claim  the  atten- 
tion of  every  Christian,  and  to  such  I 
would  address  myself,  upon  the  present  oc- 
casion. Beloved  brethren  in  the  Lord,  it  is 
my  earnest  wiJh,  that  I  may  be  instrument- 
al, in  the  hands  of  God,  in  stirring  up  your 
minds  to  the  love  and  practice  of  holiness  ; 
for  "without  holiness,  no  man  shall  see  the 
Lord,"  and  nothing  can  be  better  calcu- 
lated to  promote  our  spiritual,  interest,  than 
to  enter  into  a  close  examination,  as  to  the 
evidences  we  possess  of  our  being  the  chil- 
dren of  God. 

The  Apostle  speaks  of  heaven  as  being 
an  inheritance,  where  are  all  the  treasures 
of  those  who  shall  be  found  to  be  the  heirs 


126    IMPORTANCE  OF  PERSONAL  PIETY. 

of  salvation :  so  that,  when  their  toils  on 
earth  shall  be  ended,  they  will  be  put  in 
the  full  possession  of  all  those  blessings,  which 
God  has  laid  up  for  them  that  love  him  ; 
thej  being  the  heirs  of  promise.  Xow  the 
great  question  to  be  decided  is  this,  are 
we  the  children  of  God?  for  '*  if  children, 
then  heirs,  heirs  of  God,  and  joint  heirs 
with  Christ";  so  that,  in  proving  our  rela- 
tion to  God  as  children,  we  also  prove  our 
heirship.  Xow.  to  prove  this  to  our  own  sat- 
isfaction, is  a  matter  of  the  greatest  import- 
ance ;  and  in  order  to  this,  we  must  have 
an  internal  evidence  ;  nothing  short  of  this 
will  satisfy  the  real  Christian.  The  false 
professor  is  satisfied  with  an  outward  show 
of  piety ;  and  the  reason  is  obvious,  they 
have  never  been  born  again,  consequently 
they  have  no  internal  evidence,  and  it  is 
vain  to  look  there  for  it.  This  however, 
is  not  the  case,  with  the  truly  pious,  for 
they  are  born  of  God,  and  have  the  wit- 
ness   within   themselves ;    they   having    the 


IMPORTANCE  OF  PERSONAL  PIETY.  127 

Spirit  to  bear  witness  with  their  spirits, 
that  they  are  born  of  God,  and  are  led  to 
cry,   Abba,  Father. 

In  this  change,  they  receive  "an  unction 
from  the  Holy  One  and  know  all  things,'^ 
being  divinely  taught  to  know  the  w^ork- 
ing  of  the  Spirit,  diffusing  the  true  princi- 
ples of  grace,  and  the  love  of  God  in  their 
souls,  and  scattering  the  ignorance  and  dark- 
ness of  the  carnal  mind.  The}^  become  di- 
vinely illuminated,  and  know  all  things,  so 
far  as  relates  to  the  working  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  in  their  souls.  They  are  taught  to 
know  themselves  to  be  great  sinners,  and 
Christ  to  be  a  great  savior,  God  to  be  their 
Father,  and  to   know   the  love   of  God. 

This  is  the  root  from  which  every  branch 
of  true  piety  has  its  origin.  The  love  of 
God  is  the  mainspring  of  every  holy  action, 
so  that  whatever  may  be  our  personal  or 
ofhcial  character,  either  in  or  out  of  the 
church,  if  found  destitute  of  this  heavenly 
grace,  it  wdll  avail  us  nothing  in  the  great 


128  IMPORTANCE  OF  PERSONAL  PIETY. 

day  of  accounts,  when  God  will  judge  the 
secrets  of  men's  hearts.  The  Apostle  Paul 
is  very  plain  and  full  upon  this  point.  Hear 
what  he  says,  ''Though  I  speak  with  the 
tongues  of  men  and  of  angels  and  have  not 
charity  (love),  I  am  become  as  sounding  brass 
or  a  tinkling  cymbal.  And  though  I  have 
the  gift  of  prophesy,  and  understand  all 
mysteries,  and  all  knowledge,  and  though 
I  have  all  faith,  so  that  I  could  remove 
mountains,  and  have  not  charity,  I  am  noth- 
ing. And  though  I  bestow  all  my  goods 
to  feed  the  poor,  and  though  I  give  my 
body  to  be  burned,  and  have  not  charity, 
it  profiteth  me  nothing." 

Hence,  we  discover  that  whatever  may 
have  been  our  professions  of  being  the  chil- 
dren of  God,  and  however  many  sacrifices 
we  may  have  made  in  order  to  gain  a  title 
to  the  joys  of  heaven,  it  will  be  found,  at 
last,  but  an  empty  show  if  found  destitute 
of  true  love  to  God.  We  may  have  every 
appearance,   as  to   the    external   forms  of  a 


IMPORTANCE  OF  PERSONAL  PIETY.  129 

devotional  Christian.  We  may  preach  and 
pray,  so  as  to  become  elated  with  our  per- 
formances, and  charm  the  ears  of  others, 
and  yet  every  motive  be  the  offspring  of 
a  depraved  heart.  He  is  a  wise  man,  who 
can  govern  his  own  heart,  at  all  times,  so 
as  to  keep  it  mider  proper  control  ;  for 
many  have  been  deceived  by  it,  until  the 
die  has  been  cast,  that  has  sealed  their  eter- 
nal destiny.  No  doubt,  many  a  piece  of 
base  coin  has  passed  for  pure  gold,  for  many 
years,  until  it  was  detected  by  the  refiner. 
Let  us  not  conclude  that  these  remarks  are 
too  cutting  for  us  to  bear.  They  will  do 
us  no  harm,  for  it  is  best  that  we  should 
know  the  worst  of  ourselves  ;  and  we  need 
to  pray  earnestly,  that  God  would '' search 
us,  and  try  us,  and  see  if  there  be  any 
wicked  way  in  us,  and  lead  us  in  the  way 
everlasting.''  Some  may  be  led  to  conclude 
that  there  is  not  much  danger  of  profes- 
sors being  deceived,  at  this  present  day,  in 
which   we    have    so    much    preaching,    and 


130  IMPORTAXCE  OF  PERSONAL  PIETY. 

every  one  can  hear  it,  who  is  so  disposed. 
This  may  appear  very  plausible  at  the  first 
glance  ;  yet  upon  a  more  considerate  thought 
upon  the  subject,  we  must  perceive  that 
there  is  a  vast  difference  between  now  and 
the  days  in  which  Christ  and  his  Apostles 
lived  ;  for  persons  professing.  Christ  at  that 
day,  had  a  heavy  cross  to  take  up  ;  for 
they,  at  once,  exposed  themselves  to  afflic- 
tions of  a  most  formidable  character.  They 
had  no  law  upon  which  they  could  depend, 
to  protect  either  their  lives  or  property. 
This  formed  a  great  barrier,  to  prevent  per- 
sons from  making  a  profession  of  the  name 
of  Christ,  who  were  not  constrained  by  a 
supernatural  influence.  And  yet,  how  earn- 
estly did  both  Christ  and  his  Apostles  warn 
their  hearers,  against  being  deceived  by  the 
falsity  of  the  human  heart.  This  being  the 
case,  we  must  perceive  that  there  is  much 
more  need  of  caution  at  the  present  day, 
in  which  the  cross  has  ceased  to  exist.  In- 
stead   of  its   being   a   cross  now   to    profess 


IMPORTANCE  OF  PERSONAL  PIETY.  lol 

the  name  of  Christ,  it  is  thought  to  be 
most  honorable  to  have  our  names  enrolled 
in  some  church  book,  and  there  is  now  no 
stigma  resting  upon  the  profession  of  re- 
ligion, that  can  in  the  least  debar  them 
from  the  society  of  the  great  and  noble  of 
the  land. 

We  know  nothing  of  what  the  martyrs 
had  to  suffer  on  account  of  their  profession, 
being  cast  into  prison,  laid  upon  the  rack, 
bound  to  the  stake,  and  burned  to  death. 
And  why  all  this  ?  because  they  loved  their 
Master,  and  would  obey  him.  Now,  my 
brethren,  in  a  case  like  this,  it  would  be 
far  less  difficult  for  us  to  determine  as  to 
the  real  state  of  our  hearts,  but  as  the 
matter  stands  with  us,  while  there  is  no 
cross  to  bear,  and  the  world  smiling  upon 
us,  it  is  more  difficult  to  come  to  a  right 
decision ;  and  there  can  be  no  doubt  that 
many  have  lived  and  died  in  the  church, 
and  yet  remained  destitute  of  a  saving  knowl- 
edge of  the  power  of  religion  in  their  souls. 


132  IMPORTANCE  OF  PERSONAL  PIETY. 

If  others  have  been  deceived,  is  there  not  a 
possibihty  that  we  may  be  deceived?  We 
may  have  gained  a  very  extensive  knowl- 
edge of  the  sacred  writings  and  of  the  va- 
rious points  of  doctrine  they  contain,  so  as 
to  argue  upon  them  with  great  abihty,  and 
still  remain  unacquainted  with  the  nature  of 
true  godliness  in  the  soul. 

N'ow  as  this  lays  at  the  foundation  of  our 
final  and  eternal  happiness,  no  means  should 
be  neglected  in  order  to  ascertain  the  real 
state  of  the  case  ;  for  sad  will  be  our  con- 
dition, if  found  deceived  at  last,  in  our 
expectation  of  future  happiness.  Our  hearts 
are  deceitful  and  desperately  wicked,  so 
that  we  can  not  be  too  close  in  our  ex- 
amination, especially  as  the  cross  has  ceased 
to  exist,  and  the  world  is  now  smiling  upon 
us  ;  and  I  think  that  we  have  some  reason 
to  fear  that  there  has  been  too  much  of 
a  compromise  between  the  church  and  the 
workl.  The  men  of  the  world  are  wilhng 
to   recognize    religion,    provided    it    can    be 


IMPORTANCE  OF  PERSONAL  PIETY.  133 

SO  modified  as  to  reduce  it  to  a  mere  form 
of  godliness,  without  the  power.  This  is 
the  reason  why  the  cross  has  ceased  to  ex- 
ist, and  not  that  there  is  any  more  real 
union  between  the  spirit  of  true  piety  and 
that  of  the  world  ;  and  I  believe  that  if  all 
who  profess  the  religion  of  the  Bible  were 
really  pious,  they  would  soon  realize  the 
truth  of  the  Apostle's  declaration,  that  ''if 
any  man  will  live  godly  in  Christ  Jesus, 
he  shall  suffer  persecution."  Let  us  try, 
then,  my  brethren,  to  be  Bible  Christians, 
let  the  event  be  what  it  may. 

The  Apostle  Paul  lays  down  three  gov- 
erning principles,  which  he  terms  faith,  hope, 
and  charity,  but  the  greatest  of  these  is 
charity.  Now  these  divine  principles  are 
supernatural ;  that  is,  they  are  of  a  heavenly 
origin.  As  to  faith,  the  Apostle  says,  that 
"it  is  not  of  ourselves,  it  is  the  gift  of  God." 
The  meaning  of  the  Apostle  seems  to  be, 
that  this  faith  does  not  belong  to  man  in 
his  present  fallen  state.     It  is   true  that  he 


134    IMPORTANCE  OF  PERSONAL  PIETY. 

has  a  faith,  but  it  is  found  wanting  as  to 
the  spirit  or  hfe  ;  it  has  no  active  power 
of  hohness,  to  influence  the  motives,  and 
direct  them  in  a  right  channel ;  it  has  no 
propehug  power,  to  urge  the  soul  forward 
in  acts  of  obedience  to  God  ;  it  draws  no 
consolation  to  the  soul  from  the  death  and 
resurrection  of  Christ.  Hence  the  Apostle 
James  terms  it  "  a  dead  faith,*'  and  classes 
it  with  the  faith  of  devils  ;  but  that  faith 
which  we  receive  from  God  is  active  ;  it 
works  by  love,  it  purifies  the  heart,  and  over- 
comes the  world,  and  stands  connected  with 
the  salvation  of  the  soul.  The  Christian  is 
made  wise  unto  salvation  ;  his  faith  is  resting 
upon  Christ  as  the  only  foundation  which  God 
hath  laid  in  Zion. 

Hope  is  another  gift  most  valuable  to  the 
Christian,  which  he  receives  from  God,  and 
from  the  grateful  feelings  of  heart  he  is 
ready  to  express  himself  in  the  language  of 
Paul,  ''now  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  himself, 
and  God  even  our  Father,  which  hath  loved 


IMPORTANCE  OF  PERSONAL  PIETY.  135 

US,  and  hath  given  us  everlasting  consola- 
tion, and  good  hope  through  grace."  And 
again  he  says,  ''which  hope  we  have  as  an 
anchor  to  the  soul  both  sure  and  steadfast." 
The  similitude  is  quite  illustrative  of  the 
Christian's  hope.  We  are  all  acquainted 
with  the  use  of  an  anchor,  as  belonging 
to  a  vessel.  That  it  is  intended  to  be  cast 
overboard,  that  it  may  lay  hold  of  the  bot- 
tom of  the  sea  or  river,  to  secure  the  ship 
from  being  driven  by  the  wind  or  current 
of  the  tide  upon  the  rocks  or  shoals  ;  and 
thus  the  ship  is  safe,  where  the  anchoring 
ground  is  good.  The  Cliristian,  like  the 
vessel,  is  always  in  danger  of  being  driven 
away  from  a  faithful  discharge  of  his  duty 
to  God,  to  the  loss  of  all  his  comfort  and 
religious  enjoyments,  when  separated  from 
the  anchor  of  his  hope.  He  is  in  danger 
from  the  strong  wind  of  temptation,  the 
allurements  of  the  world,  and  the  current 
of  his  own  wicked  inclinations,  but  his  an- 
chor,   hope,  holds  him   fast.     It  is  cast  not 


136  IMPORTANCE  OF  PERSONAL  PIETY. 

upon  the  bottom  of  the  sea,  but  up  into 
heaven,  withm  the  vail,  which  is  far  bet- 
ter anchoring  ground  ;  it  is  fastened  to  the 
rock  Christ.     Thus  the  Christian  can  sing, 

"  Hope  is  my  anchor  firm  and  strong, 
While  tempests  blow  and  billows  rise." 

The  Apostle  concludes  by  naming  charity 
or  love,  which  he  says  is  the  greatest  of 
them   all. 

"  This  is  the  grace  that  lives  and  sings, 
"When  faith  and  hope  shall  cease  ; 
'Tis  this  shall  strike  our  joyful  strings, 
In  the  sweet  realms  of  bliss." 

Faith  and  hope  belong  to  us  during  this 
life.  They  always  prove  loving  companions, 
but  we  can  not  take  them  with  us  through 
the  Jordan  of  death,  into  the  heavenly 
Canaan  ;  but  love  will  abide  with  us  forever. 
I  have  said  that  the  love  of  God  is  the 
root,  from  which  every  branch  of  true  piety 
springs.  It  is  the  fountain  from  which 
springs  every  holy  thought  and  action,  and 
it  elevates  the  mind  above  the  sordid  pleas- 
ures  of  this   transitory   life  ;    indeed,    it    is 


IMPORTANCE  OF  PERSONAL  PIETY.  137 

this  that  gives  a  foretaste  of  the  heavenly 
glory.  The  Christian  has  a  witness  within 
himself,  that  he  is  a  child  of  God  and  an 
heir  of  heaven.  If  we  love  God,  we  will 
love  our  brethren  also,  as  they  bear  his 
likeness.  Now,  my  brethren,  if  in  the  course 
of  our  examination,  we  find  that  our  expe- 
rience compares  with  the  illustration  which 
the  Bible  gives  of  Christian  experience ; 
feeling  ourselves  stripped  of  self  and  self-de- 
pendence, and  only  hope  for  life  and  salva- 
tion centring  in  Christ,  as  the  only  sacri- 
fice for  sin,  and  the  love  of  God  inspiring 
our  souls  to  love  and  good  works  ;  in  this 
case,  we  may  reasonably  conclude  that  we 
have  been  made  new  creatures  in  Christ 
Jesus,  and  have  passed  from  death  unto  life, 
having  been  made  partakers  of  his  holiness. 
The  love  of  God  now  becomes  the  ruling 
passion  of  the  soul,  controlling  the  thoughts 
and  actions,  and  bringing  them  into  sweet 
conformity  to  the  will  of  God. 

"  'Tis  love  that  makes  our  cheerful  feet, 
In  swift  obedience  move." 


138  IMPORT AXCE  OF  PERSONAL  PIETY. 

If  our  souls  dwell  under  the  influence  of 
this  love,  our  fruit  will  be  unto  holiness, 
and  the  end,  everlasting  life.  This  love  pre- 
pares the  Christian  to  take  up  his  cross,  and 
follow  the  Savior  through  both  good  and 
evil  report,  and  he  is  ready  to  say 

"  Througli  floods  and  flames  if  Jesus  leads, 
I'll  follow  where  he  goes  ; 
Hinder  me  not  shall  be  my  cry, 
Though  earth  and  hell  oppose." 

He  loves  the  people  of  God,  and  delights 
to  meet  them  in  the  sanctuary,  to  unite 
with  them  in  the  delightful  solemnities  of 
the  worship  of  God  ;  and  he  feels  it  one 
of  his  highest  privileges  to  become  united 
with  them  in  church  relation,  and  to  be  gov- 
erned by  the  rules  laid  down  in  the  Bible, 
both  of  faith  and  practice,  and  left  with  the 
church,  for  the  government  of  her  members ; 
which,  when  properly  attended  to,  in  the 
spirit  of  meekness,  can  not  fail  of  pro- 
ducing the  most  happy  results.  By  this 
means,  we  promote  the  peace  and  pros- 
perity of  the  church,  and  this  forms  a  pow- 


IMPORTANCE  OF  PERSONAL  PIETY.  139 

erful  engine  to  put  to  silence  those  who 
may  assail  the  cause  of  Christ  and  his 
church. 

Oh  how  delightful  it  is  to  see,  brethren 
living  together  in  love  and  unity,  striving 
together  to  keep  the  unity  of  the  spirit  in 
the  bonds  of  peace,  and  praying  earnestly 
for  the  prosperity  of  the  church  !  And  as 
this  state  of  union  and  brotherly  love  de- 
pends much  upon  the  blessing  of  God  at- 
tending the  administration  of  the  Gospel, 
pray  earnestly  for  your  pastors,  that  their 
labors  may  prove  successful,  in  w^inning  souls 
to  Christ  ;  for  without  the  blessing  of  God, 
Paul  may  plant  and  ApoUos  water  but  all  in 
vain,  if  God  withhold  the  blessing.  Hold 
up  their  hands,  when  they  are  ready  to 
faint  under  their  discouragements,  crying- 
out  ''who  is  sufficient  for  these  things?'' 
Brethren,  never  let  us  be  found  among  those 
disorderly  members,  who  are  always  ready 
to  pull  down,  while  the  pastor  is  building- 
up  ;   let  not  our  sacrificial  altars  be   defaced 


140  IMPORTANCE  OF  PERSONAL  PIETY. 

by  a  worldly  and  slothful  disposition  of  mind. 
Let  us  not  then  brethren,  be  weary  in  well 
doing,  for  in  due  time  we  shall  reap,  if  we 
faint  not. 

Let  us  bear  in  mind  also,  that  heaven  is 
all  the  way  up  hill ;  it  is  very  easy  slid- 
ing back  but  hard  to  regain  the  steps  we 
lose.  Let  us  therefore  be  kind  to  each 
other,  tender-hearted,  forgiving  one  another, 
in  the  spirit  of  meekness,  contributing  to  the 
relief  of  the  poor  saints,  bearing  in  mind 
that  we  all  belong  to  the  same  family,  being 
children  of  the  same  heavenly  parent.  Let 
the  poor  saints  comfort  themselves,  that  al- 
though they  are  poor  in  this  world,  yet 
they  have  a  large  treasure  in  heaven.  To 
my  young  brethren  I  w^ould  say,  try  to  be- 
come well  acquainted  with  your  Bible,  and 
it  will  be  a  solace  to  you  in  your  declin- 
ing age,  when  the  keepers  of  the  house 
shall  tremble,  and  those  who  look  out  of 
the  windows  be  darkened,  if  your  life  should 
be  prolonged,  to  see  those  days. 


IMPORTANCE  OF  PERSONAL  PIETY.  1  41 

The  Bible,  my  brethren,  is  a  precious  treas- 
ure to  the  soul,  hungering  and  thirsting  aft- 
er  the    consolations  of  the    Gospel.      If  we 
were  deprived  of  it,   we   should   know  how 
to  estimate    its   value   much  better.     Before 
the    art  of  printing   was    discovered,    it   re- 
quired  the    wages  of  a   poor   man   thirteen 
years,  to   procure  a   manuscript   of  the    Bi- 
ble, thus  placing  it  out  of  the  reach  of  the 
poor    altogether.     We  have  an  account  of  a 
very   pious   woman,   who    being    acquainted 
with  a  bookseller,  was  in  the  habit  of  bor- 
rowing a  Bible.     On  a  certain   day,  she  ap- 
plied to  the  bookseller  for  this  favor,  which 
was   granted.     After  she  had  left  the  store, 
a  wealthy   man   being   present,    inquired   in 
relation   to   her  case  ;   he  was   informed   by 
the   bookseller  that   she  was  a  poor  woman 
and   very  pious,    and  loved   the    Bible    very 
much.     The  heart  of  this  wealthy  man  was 
touched  with  such   sympathy,  that   he    paid 
for   the  Bible    and  left  word  that  when  she 
should   return   with   the    Bible,    she    should 


142  IMPORTANCE  OF  PERSONAL  PIETY. 

be  informed  that  it  was  hers.  On  her  re- 
tnrn,  she  hearing  the  glad  tidings,  clasped 
it  to  her  heart,  and  exclaimed,  0  precious 
treasm^e  ! 

We  shall  now  close  this  chapter  by  re- 
minding the  reader  that  time  is  short.  Our 
Master  has  placed  us  in  his  vineyard  to 
work,  and  has  commanded  us  to  work  while 
the  day  lasts.  There  is  much  to  be  done, 
and  but  little  time  to  do  it  in,  let  us 
therefore  be  fervent  in  spiirit,  serving  the 
Lord. 


CHAPTER  YIII. 

IMPORTANCE  OF  A  HOLY  LIFE. 

TTe  will  devote  tliis  chapter  to  some  fur- 
ther remarks,  addressed  to  those  who  have 
professed  religion,  upon  the  hnportance  of 
living  a  holy  life,  in  the  service  of  our  blessed 
Lord  ;  so  that  every  word  and  action  may 
portray  the  life  of  an  humble  and  devout 
Christian,  the  servant  of  Christ,  the  man  of 
God,  maintainmg  that  integrity,  which  is  so 
highly  ornamental  to  the  Christian  character  ; 
bearing  in  mind  that  we  have  been  placed  in 
the  Church,  as  lights  in  this  dark,  benighted 
world,  and  we  are  to  let  our  light  shine,  that 
those  around  us,  seeing  our  good  works,  may 
glorify  our  father  in  heaven,  taking  knowl- 
edge of  us  that  we  have  been  with  Jesus. 

We  are  to  take  up  our  cross  daily,  deny- 
ing ourselves  all  ungodliness  and  worldly 
lust,  and  live  soberly,  righteously,  and  godly. 
We  have  a  wicked  heart  to  conquer,  and  he 


144  IMPORTANCE  OF  A  HOLY  LIFE. 

that  can  do  this,  so  as  to  rule  and  govern  it, 
is  better  than  he  that  taketh  a  city  ;  that  is, 
he  is  more  wise  and  powerful.  Brethren, 
we  have  learned  both  from  the  Bible  and 
from  our  own  experience,  that  "it  is  an  evil 
and  bitter  thing  to  depart  from  the  Lord,'^ 
for  the  backslider  in  heart  shall  be  filled  with 
his  own  ways.  The  Lord  speaking  of  such 
says,  ''they  are  joined  to  their  idols,  let 
them  alone."  Yes,  let  them  alone,  for  they 
will  soon  become  sick  of  their  ways,  and  be 
glad  to  return,  as  many  have  done,  with  a 
broken  heart. 

The  heavenly  Jerusalem  is  built  upon  an 
elevated  plain,  the  mount  of  God.  The  only 
road  leading  to  the  Celestial  city,  is  the 
King's  highway  of  holiness,  a  most  pleasant 
and  delightful  w^ay,  rendered  so  by  the  jDres- 
ence  of  our  blessed  Lord,  who  causes  all  dif- 
ficulties to  vanish.  No  lion  is  found  there. 
Even  the  martyrs  were  not  heard  to  complain 
of  the  way  being  rugged.  No,  for  they 
could  smile  at  the  devouring  elements,  while 


IMPORTANCE  OF  A  HOLY  LIFE.  145 

they  were  blazing  around  tliem.  Nothing 
could  harm  them.  Their  eyes  were  fixed 
upon  the  cross.  It  is  only  when  we  lose 
sight  of  the  cross,  that  we  lose  our  way  and 
have  to  clamber  over  the  rocks  and  mountains 
of  despondency,  which  has  ever  been  found  to 
be  a  dark  and  dangerous  way  ;  and  all  who 
have  turned  aside  from  the  King's  highway, 
have  found  it  to  be  a  slipper}'  path  to  travel 
in.  David  found  it  so,  for  he  says,  ''my  feet 
had  well  nigh  slipped,  while  I  saw  the  prosper- 
ity of  the  wicked."  It  is  a  dangerous  thing  for 
a  Christian  to  have  his  eyes  turned  from  the 
cross,  to  worldly  ease  and  prosperity,  for  it  is 
sure  to  lead  him  astray.  David  only  recov- 
ered his  former  standing,  by  retracing  his 
steps  to  the  house  of  God,  where  he  learned 
his  folly,  by  having  his  eyes  open  to  see  the 
end  of  the  wicked.  The  evil  consequence 
resulting  from  a  backslidden  state  of  the  heart, 
is  not  merely  the  loss  of  the  enjoyment  of  re- 
ligion ;  but  the  state  of  the  heart  is  the  die 
that  stamps  its  own  image  upon  the  general 


146  IMPORTANCE  OF  A  HOLY  LIFE. 

character  and  deportment  of  the  professor  ; 
and  by  this  the  world  judges  of  the  truth  or 
falsity  of  the  religion  he  professes  ;  while  on 
the  other  hand,  if  the  deportment  of  the  pro- 
fessor be  exemplary,  it  has  a  powerful  mflu- 
ence  upon  the  minds  of  beholders,  well  cal- 
culated to  make  a  favorable  impression,  such 
as  can  not  be  easily  resisted. 

But,  brethren,  what  would  be  our  sad  feel- 
ings if  we  had  been  instrumental  in  harden- 
ing the  hearts  of  sinners,  and  making  them 
more  bold  in  blaspheming  the  name  of  our 
Master  and  his  holy  religion,  and  thus  plac- 
ing .  them  at  a  far  greater  distance  from  a 
hope  of  salvation  ?  In  this  case,  the  poor 
afflicted  pastor  may  preach  like  an  angel,  yet 
all  in  vain.  The  sinner's  mind,  having  be- 
come so  well  fortified  in  his  stronghold,  that 
as  well  might  a  soldier  attempt  to  make  a 
breach  in  the  wall  of  an  impregnable  fortress 
with  a  shot  gun,  as  for  the  j^astor  to  make 
any  serious  impressions  upon  the  minds  of  such 
hearers,  who  have  become  thus  hardened. 


IMPORTANCE  OF  A  HOLY  LIFE.  147 

I  have  often  conversed  with  characters  of 
this  description,  but  have  always  been  re- 
pulsed, by  being  referred  to  some  delinquent 
member  of  the  church,  whose  conduct  has 
become  disgraceful  to  the  cause  of  rehgion. 
Hence  we  see  the  importance  of  our  doing 
all  in  our  power,  to  counteract  such  a  wicked 
influence,  so  injurious  to  the  cause  of  Christ. 
In  order  to  do  this,  we  must  try  to  keep 
open,  spiritual  intercourse  between  our  souls 
and  heaven  ;  we  must  bear  in  mind  that  the 
Bible  represents  us  as  spiritual  merchants ; 
we  commenced  business,  when  our  souls 
were  renewed  by  the  spirit  of  God,  and  we 
were  made  new  creatures  in  Christ  Jesus. 
Although  we  had  no  stock  of  our  own  to 
trade  upon,  yet  we  found  a  friend  in  Christ, 
whose  riches  can  not  be  exhausted,  he  being 
one  of  the  three  members  of  the  commercial 
house  of  heaven.  They  are  the  three  which 
compose  the  royal  family.  Their  trade  is  so 
immense  that  no  estimate  can  be  given. 
Their  object  is  to  enrich  the  world  with  that 


148  IMPORTANCE  OF  A  HOLY  LIFE. 

wisdom  which  is  from  above,  making  men 
wise  unto  salvation,  "  the  merchandise  thereof 
being  better  than  the  merchandise  of  silver, 
and  the  gain  thereof  than  fine  gold." 

Every  spiritual  merchant  may  earnestly 
recommend  his  merchandise  without  falsity. 
Even  ministers  of  the  Gospel  may  publish  it 
from  their  pulpits,  that  Paul  sums  up  this 
merchandise  in  true  ' '  godliness,  which  is 
great  gain,  being  profitable  unto  all  things, 
having  the  promise  of  the  life  that  now  is, 
and  of  that  which  is  to  come."  Recommend 
your  merchandise  wherever  you  go,  not  only 
by  your  word,  but  by  every  act  of  your  life. 
Let  your  whole  deportment  establish  your 
character  as  a  man  of  integrity,  in  whom  the 
fullest  confidence  can  be  placed.  Although 
your  merchandise  is  to  be  disposed  of  upon 
such  liberal  terms,  being  without  money  and 
without  price,  yet  the  more  you  dispose  of 
this  merchandise,  the  richer  you  will  become  ; 
for  there  is  an  invisible  hand  constantly  in- 
creasing your  stock  tenfold  beyond  your  out- 


IMPORTANCE  OF  A  HOLY  LIFE.  149 

lay,  so  that  wliile  you  are  imparting  heavenly 
instruction  to  others,  in  order  to  make  them 
wise  unto  salvation,  you  are  enriching  your 
own  souls.  What  encouragement  to  be  dili- 
gent in  your  business,  and  bear  in  mind  that 
3^our  benefactor  will  expect  to  hear  from  you 
often  by  letter,  in  which  you  will  doubtless 
record  your  grateful  feelings,  and  what  pro- 
gress you  have  made  in  the  trust  committed 
to  you. 

N'ow,  dear  brethren,  as  you  have  put  up 
your  sign  over  your  door,  and  are  recog- 
nized by  all  as  spiritual  merchants,  let  not 
your  profession  become  disgraced  by  your 
negligence  in  business.  Be  active ;  follow 
the  example  of  your  benefactor  when  he  was 
upon  earth  who  went  about  doing  good,  mak- 
ing many  wise  unto  salvation.  However, 
we  must  not  expect  to  prosper  in  our  busi- 
ness, without  difficulties.  We  must  expect 
opposition  from  the  world  around  us,  and 
even  among  our  own  families,  for  you  know 
that  we   are   all  born  with  a  vail  over  our 


150  IMPORTANCE  OF  A  HOLY  LIFE. 

faces,  so  that  we  can  not  discover  the  nature 
and  value  of  our  sph'itual  merchandise.  In- 
deed, we  all  have  a  natural  dislike  to  it,  until 
this  vail  is  removed.  Old  prejudices,  espe- 
cially ill  matters  of  religion,  are  hard  to  be 
overcome. 

^^ot  only  so,  but  we  have  other  influences 
brought  against  us,  occasioned  by  so  many 
who  profess  to  be  spiritual  merchants,  but 
turn  out  to  be  deceivers.  When  they  com- 
mence business,  they  put  up  a  splendid  sign 
over  their  door,  and  mstead  of  receiving  a 
stock  from  the  commercial  house  in  heaven, 
have  polished  up  their  old  stock,  to  deceive 
the  people  by  passing  off  upon  them  worth- 
less merchandise,  manufactured  in  the  lower 
region,  instead  of  that  which  comes  from  the 
upper  region,  more  valuable  than  fine  gold, 
which  endureth  unto  everlasting  hfe.  These 
merchants,  being  deceivers,  soon  become 
bankrupt,  and  down  goes  their  sign,  and 
they  return  to  their  former  calhng,  the  feed- 
ing of  swine.      Xow,   these  false  merchants 


IMPORTANCE  OF  A  HOLY  LIFE.  151 

having  played  the  rogue,  the  censure  of 
the  world  now  falls  upon  all  the  true  spmtual 
merchants.  This  adds  to  their  grief,  that  the 
holy  cause  of  their  master  must  suffer  so 
much  from  the  blasphemer.  But  go  on 
brethren,  bear  the  reproach  with  patience  ; 
our  master  is  preparing  a  place  for  us,  and  he 
will  soon  come  and  talvc  us  to  himself,  that 
where  he  is  we  may  be  also.  If  we  suffer 
with  him,   we  shall  be  glorified  with  him. 

Let  us  learn  then  to  be  patient  in  tribula- 
tion. This  we  know,  is  a  very  hard  lesson 
to  learn,  yet  it  is  one  of  very  great  import- 
ance. "We  should  endure  reproach,  not 
merely  because  we  can  not  avoid  it,  but  re- 
joice that  we  are  counted  worthy  to  suffer 
reproach  for  the  sake  of  our  blessed  master, 
who  suffered  so  much  for  us,  and  hath  left  an 
example  of  patience,  and  said  that  we  should 
follow  his  footsteps.  We  should  be  very 
guarded  over  our  thoughts,  words,  and  ac- 
tions, in  order  to  bring  them  into  accordance 
with  the  spirit  of  the  gospel ;  not  merely  in 


152    .  IMPORTANCE  OF  A  HOLY  LIFE. 

order  to  bear  the  appearance  of  piety  before 
men,  but  to  receive  the  approbation  of  him 
who  searches  the  heart.  Integrity  is  that 
which  adorns  the  Christian  character. 

Alas!  we  find  too  many  professors,  who  are 
wanting  in  purity  of  principle.  Their  word 
or  profession  of  friendship,  is  not  to  be  de- 
pended upon  ;  and  when  you  need  them,  they 
are  not  to  be  found,  except  as  a  snake  in  the 
grass,  like  their  brother  Judas,  who  betrayed 
his  Lord.  Let  such  bear  in  mind  their  broth- 
er's fate.  Lord  deliver  us  from  such  profess- 
ors, and  from  our  wicked  and  corrupt  na- 
tures, and  purify  our  hearts,  and  cleanse  us 
from  all  our  imperfection  and  bring  us  finally 
to  heaven ! 


CHAPTER  IX. 

TO    THE    UNCONVERTED. 

This  chapter  is  devoted  to  the  spiritual 
interests  of  those  who  have  no  saving  knowl- 
edge of  Christ.  My  dear  friends,  let  me  as- 
sure you  that  the  subject  which  we  are 
about  to  present  for  your  consideration  is 
one  of  vast  importance,  and  one  in  which 
we  are  all  deeply  interested.  I  have  refer- 
ence to  the  salvation  of  the  soul,  that  im- 
mortal part  of  man,  which  in  its  original 
purity  was  stamped  with  the  divine  impress, 
though  now  guilty  and  depraved  by  sin. 
This  immortal  treasure  is  of  unspeakable 
value ;  indeed,  there  is  nothing  that  can 
compare  with  it.  Should  we  compare  it  with 
all  the  wealth,  honors,  and  pleasures  of  the 
world,  what  would  they  be  in  the  scale  to 
compensate  us  for  the  loss  of  our  souls  ? 
They  would  bear  no  comparison.  They 
would    at     once     sink     into     insignificance. 


154  TO  THE  UXCONYERTED. 

They  can  not  give  that  solid  happiness 
which  the  soul  requires,  and  what  little  they 
may  afford  is  of  too  short  a  date  to  be 
taken  into  account. 

Are  we  prepared  to  solve  and  answer  the 
question  which  our  Savior  propounds,  "what 
shall  it  pjrofit  a  man,  if  he  shall  gain  the 
whole  world  and  lose  his  own  soul?"  Now 
the  manner  in  which  the  question  is  pro- 
posed, is  quite  significant  in  its  meaning, 
for  it  is  in  effect  saying  that  it  would  be 
a  very  unprofitable  exchange.  For  a  man 
to  lose  his  natural  life  is  considered  a  very 
great  loss.  Satan,  who  is  said  to  be  the 
father  of  lies,  spoke  the  truth  once,  when  he 
said  ' '  all  that  a  man  hath  will  he  give  for 
his  life"  ;  still  we  may  lose  our  lives,  and 
yet  save  our  souls  ;  but  in  losing  our  souls 
we  lose  our  all,  and  when  once  lost,  it  can 
not  be  recovered  again.  By  the  loss  of  the 
soul,  we  understand  the  final  banishment 
from  Grod,  and  the  glory  of  his  power,  and 
the  endurino;  the  wrath  of  God  forever.     Is 


TO  THE  UNCONVERTED.  155 

it  not  wonderful,  that  rational  and  intelli- 
gent beings,  should  be  so  thoughtless  and 
unconcerned  about  the  soul,  as  to  neglect 
its  salvation  ?  If  our  lives  or  property  are 
in  danger,  how  earnest  we  are  in  providing 
for  their  safety.  If  an  assault  from  the  as- 
sassin or  robber  be  anticipated,  then  locks, 
bars,  and  bolts  are  brought  into  requisition. 
If  disease  of  body  threaten  us  with  fatality, 
a  remedy  is  with  speed  sought  after. 

Now  to  make  the  matter  more  plain, 
suppose  we  had  a  large  amount  of  gold  in 
our  houses,  and  at  the  same  time  we  had 
a  number  of  servants  in  whose  honesty  we 
could  not  place  the  least  confidence,  could 
we  feel  satisfied  in  letting  that  valuable 
treasure  be  exposed  to  those  faithless  serv- 
ants, they  having  no  regard  for  our  interest? 
I  think  not.  Should  we  not  rather  seek 
to  secure  it  from  depredation  by  commit- 
ting it  to  some  tried  and  trusty  hand,  in 
the  bank,  or  under  lock  and  key?  Why 
not   then  regard  the  counsels  of  heaven,  in 


156  TO  THE  UNCONVERTED. 

relation  to  the  safety  of  that  immortal  treas- 
ure, the  soul,  the  value  of  which  is  clearly 
demonstrated  in  the  Bible,  as  being  far  be- 
yond conception.  And  shall  we  still  ex- 
pose this  invaluable  treasure  to  the  control 
of  the  wicked  propensities  of  our  nature, 
they  being  in  league  with  Satan  the  great 
destroyer  of  souls,  to  prove  our  final  ruin  ? 
Must  we  give  up  to  be  conci[uered,  and  lose 
our  souls,  by  bartering  them  for  the  sinful 
pleasures  of  a  short  life  ?  Alas,  how  sad  the 
thought!  While  we  look  around  us,  and 
gaze  upon  the  busy  multitude,  we  see  them 
toiling  both  in  body  and  in  mind  ;  and  what 
for?  for  worldly  treasure  that  can  serve 
them  but  a  few  short  years  at  most,  and 
all  to  the  total  neglect  of  that  immortal 
treasure,  the  soul. 

How  can  we  account  for  this  folly  and  in- 
difference ?  The  Bible  says  that  ''the  god 
of  this  world  hath  blinded  the  minds  of  them 
that  believe  not,  lest  the  light  of  the  glo- 
rious  Gospel   of    Christ    should   shine    unto 


TO  THE  UNCONVERTED.  157 

them."  Man  is  a  depraved  being,  he  has 
lifted  up  the  hand  of  rebellion,  being  an 
enemy  to  God  and  his  government,  and  is 
now  resting  under  the  sentence  of  death, 
which  will  be  executed  upon  him,  if  not 
rescued  by  the  atoning  sacrifice  of  Christ. 
There  is  a  great  change  necessary  in  order 
to  fit  us  to  dwell  with  pure  and  holy  beings, 
who  are  exclaiming  "holy,  holy,  is  the  Lord 
God  Almighty!''  Why,  an  unregenerated 
soul,  to  be  there,  would  wish  itself  in  the 
company  of  those  wicked  fiends  of  the  lower 
region,  for  the  presence  of  God  would  be 
a  terror  to  it.  0  pause  for  a  moment,  and 
examine  the  matter  well.  Think  seriously 
upon  its  importance.  Perhaps  you  may  have 
been  persuading  yourselves  that  your  sins 
are  not  so  numerous  as  they  have  been  rep- 
resented ;  if  the  Lord  should  cause  the  light 
of  divine  truth  to  shine  into  your  under- 
standing, you  would  be  ready  to  exclaim, 
that  the  half  has  never  been  told  you. 
You  would  then  discover  a  great  difference 


158  TO  THE  UNCONYERTED. 

between  hearing  of  your  sins,  and  having 
them  placed  before  your  eyes. 

It  is  the  hohness  of  God  in  his  hiw,  that 
discovers  to  us  our  sins,  for  "  by  the  law 
is  the  knowledge  of  sin."  We  know  that 
all  this  is  hard  for  the  unenlightened  mind 
to  comprehend.  Job,  although  he  was  a 
very  pious  man,  yet  on  becoming  more  fully 
enlightened  as  to  the  holiness  of  the  Deity, 
exclaimed,  ''  I  have  heard  of  thee  by  the  hear- 
ing of  the  ear,  but  now  mine  eyes  seeth 
thee,  wherefore  I  abhor  myself,  and  repent 
in  dust  and  ashes.''  Paul  was  eminently 
pious;  yet  we  hear  him  exclaiming  "0 
wretched  man  that  I  am,  who  shall  deliver 
me  from  the  body  of  this  death  ?"  The 
more  pious  a  man  is,  the  more  he  discovers 
his  imperfections  ;  the  whiter  our  garments 
are,  the  more  clearly  we  discover  their  spots. 

The  religion  of  the  Bible  is  that  which 
exposes  and  brings  to  light  the  hidden 
things  of  darkness,  and  corrects  the  lives 
and  morals  of  men,  and  has  done  more  for 


TO  THE  UNCONVERTED.  159 

the  moralization  of  the  world,  than  any 
other  system  ever  mvented.  It  has  over- 
come every  obstacle  (one  of  the  most  for- 
midable of  which,  is  the  opposition  of  the 
natural  heart),  and  that  in  many  cases,  armed 
with  almost  absolute  power  ;  and  although 
it  had  a  small  beginning,  yet  it  has  tri- 
umphed over  every  obstacle,  and  it  must 
triumph,  until  the  kingdoms  of  this  world 
shall  become  the  kingdom  of  our  Lord  and  of 
his  Christ.  Infidelity  would  trample  under 
feet  the  religion  of  the  Bible,  because  some 
of  its  professors  have  disgraced  it  by  acts 
of  immorality.  In  this  there  seems  to  be  a 
w^ant  of  candor,  for  in  the  religion  of  the 
Bible,  there  is  nothing  but  purity  of  thought, 
word,  and  action  inculcated,  for  it  teaches 
us  to  ''  deny  ourselves  of  all  ungodliness, 
and  worldly  lusts,  and  to  live  soberly, 
righteously,  and  godly."  N'ow,  if  professors 
violate  these  principles,  either  in  a  few  or 
many  cases,  it  is  not  doing  justice  to  attrib- 
ute   it   to   religion,    which    condemns   every 


160  TO  THE  UNCONVERTED. 

immoral  act.  It  would  be  as  reasonable  to 
impute  the  stumbling  of  a  man  in  open  day, 
to  the  light  of  the  sun,  while  his  eyes  were 
directed  in  some  other  direction. 

In  my  foregoing  remarks,  it  has  been  my 
object  to  point  out  the  danger  of  living 
in  a  state  of  sin  and  rebellion  against  God. 
I  have  pointed  out,  in  some  measure,  the 
happy  effects  which  religion  has  produced 
in  the  civihzation  and  moralization  of  the 
world.  Still  there  is  a  higher  branch  of  re- 
ligious science  to  be  taught,  in  order  to 
salvation.  We  must  know  what  it  is  to  be 
born  again,  as  our  Lord  said  to  Nicodemus, 
"  Marvel  not  that  I  said  unto  thee,  ye  must 
be  born  again."  Xicodemus  was  a  learned 
man,  yet  he  had  never  become  acquainted 
with  this  kind  of  science,  it  being  of  a 
heavenly  origin.  Without  this  change  we 
never  can  see  the  kingdom  of  God.  If  we 
wish  to  become  more  fully  enlightened  upon 
this  subject,  let  us  examine  as  to  the  ef- 
fect  produced   by   the   Holy   Spirit    attend- 


TO  THE  UNCONVERTED.  161 

ing  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  on  the  day 
of  Pentecost ;  for  while  the  Apostles  were 
preaching,  the  word  was  directed,  like  a 
piercing  arrow,  cutting  to  the  very  hearts  of 
the  hearers,  and  they  were  led  to  cry  out 
with  one  accord,  ''men  and  brethren,  what 
must  we  do?"  Peter  had  been  charging 
home  their  sins  upon  them,  and  they  felt 
themselves  condemned.  Their  hearts  were 
now  broken  down,  and  they  felt  their  sins 
to  be  a  great  burden,  and  were  anxious  to 
know  what  they  must  do  to  be  saved. 
Peter  at  once  preached  Christ  to  them,  for 
he  knew  that  there  was  no  other  name 
given  under  heaven,  by  which  they  could 
be  saved.  So  that  in  answer  to  their  ques- 
tion he  said,  ''believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  and  thou  shalt  be  saved." 

In  preaching  Christ,  we  must  of  necessity 
preach  the  law,  for  where  there  is  no  law 
there  is  no  transgression.  It  is  only  by  the 
law  that  we  have  the  knowledge  of  sin. 
Paul  says,  "I  was  ahve  without  the  law,  but 


162  TO  THE  UNCONVERTED. 

when  the  commandment  came,  sin  revived, 
and  I  died."  Kow  we  do  not  suppose  that 
Paul  was  without  a  knowledge  of  the  letter 
of  the  law.  This  can  not  be  true,  for  he  was 
well  acquainted  with  the  language  of  the  law  ; 
he  knew  its  meaning  when  it  says,  "thou 
slialt  not  kill"  or  "commit  adultery."  In- 
deed, he  could  expound  the  law  according  to 
its  literal  meaning,  but  its  life  or  spirituality 
he  did  not  comprehend.  However,  as  soon 
as  his  mind  became  enlightened  to  discover 
the  true  character  of  the  law,  as  being  summed 
up  in  pure  love  to  God  as  the  motive  power 
to  every  action  of  the  soul  ]  he  like  every  en- 
lightened sinner,  sunk  under  the  ponderous 
weight  of  guilt  charged  against  him,  as  hav- 
ing come  short  in  every  point,  so  that  he 
died  to  all  hope  of  being  justified  by  the 
deeds  of  the  law.  ^ow  his  mind  was  turned 
to  Christ,  who  having  .answered  the  demands 
of  the  law,  by  his  holy  life  and  sacrificial 
death,  became  "the  end  of  the  law  for  right- 
eousness  to   every  one    that   believeth ;"   so 


TO  THE  UNCONVERTED.  163 

that,  altliough  the  law  killed  Paul,  yet  he 
rose  again,  to  live  a  more  glorious  life  in 
Christ ;  a  life  of  justification  from  all  things, 
from  which  he  could  not  have  been  justified 
by  the  law  of  Moses. 

Some    have   been   induced   to   modify  the 
nature  of  this  change,  so  as  to  render  it  more 
easy  to  make   a  profession  of  religion,   and 
thus    add    more    members    to    the    church. 
However,  with  such  professors,  we  fear  it  will 
prove  a  sad  affair  ;  they  not  being  able  to 
give  a  reason  of  the  hope  within  them.     If 
we  take  into  consideration  ever}^  thing  in  re- 
lation to  this  change,  it  can  not  be  considered 
a   matter   of  small   account.     The    language 
made  use  of  in  the  Bible,  in  order  to  illus- 
trate the  nature  of  this  change,  shows  it  to  be 
a  matter  of  vast  importance.     Persons  hav- 
ing experienced  this  change,  are  said  to  be 
new  creatures,  "if  any  man  be  in  Christ,  he 
is  a  new  creature."     Again  he  is  said  to  be 
"created  in  Christ  Jesus  unto  good  works." 
Now  such  language  seems  to  express  some- 


164  TO  THE  UNCONVERTED. 

thing  more  than  merely  a  form  of  godliness. 
There  is  a  created  jDower,  forming  in  the  soul 
a  holy  and  heavenly  principle  of  grace,  or 
"a  new  man,  created  in  righteousness  and 
true  holiness.'^  This  work,  whatever  the  infi- 
del may  think  of  it,  is  worthy  of  that  God  to 
whom  it  is  ascribed.  Hence  the  Apostle,  in 
addressing  his  brethren  at  Philippi,  says, 
"  being  confident  of  this  very  thing,  that  he 
which  hath  begun  a  good  work  in  you,  will 
perform  it  until  the  day  of  Jesus  Christ.'^ 
This  work  to  which  the  Apostle  here  refers,  is 
the  work  of  grace  in  the  soul,  regenerating  it 
and  fitting  it  for  the  service  of  God.  In  its 
original  formation  as  it  came  from  the  hand 
of  God,  it  was  beautified  with  every  principle 
of  purity ;  every  power  of  the  soul  was 
formed  in  strict  accordance  with  the  holy  will 
of  its  creator,  crowned  with  honor  ;  but  in 
honor  it  abode  not,  but  fell  from  that  state  of 
rectitude.  Alas,  may  we  not  exclaim,  how 
have  the  mighty  fallen  I  How  has  that  beau- 
tiful temple  of  man's  soul  become  debased,  by 


TO  THE  UNCONVERTED.  165 

the  entering  in  of  those  wicked  fiends  of  the 
bottomless  pit,  pulling  down  the  sacred  altar, 
extinguishing  the  holy  fire,  and  every  power 
of  the  soul  has  become  depraved,  so  that  we 
can  not  marvel  that  the  Bible  gives  us  such  a 
debased  character  of  man,  in  his  unrenewed 
state.  "They  are  all  gone  out  of  the  way, 
they  are  together  become  unprofitable  ;  there 
is  71  one  that  doeth  good,  no,  not  one.  There 
is  none  righteous,  no,  not  one.  There  is  none 
that  understandeth,  there  is  none  that  seek- 
eth  after  God."  Now  the  renewing  of  the 
soul,  and  fitting  it  for  the  temple  of  the  Holy 
Ghost  to  dwell  m,  is  the  work  of  the  same 
creating  power  as  gave  to  Adam  his  form  and 
being.  Hence  says  the  Apostle,  "we  are  his 
workmanship,  created  in  Christ  Jesus,  unto 
good  works."  This  is  a  being  born  again, 
and  receiving  a  new  and  spiritual  life;  "old 
things  having  passed  away,  and  all  things  be- 
come new."  When  the  soul,  enlightened  by 
the  spirit  of  God,  is  brought  into  the  glorious 
light  and  liberty  of  the  Gospel,  it  is  but  a  be- 


166  TO  THE  UNCONYERTED. 

gun  work,  whicli  is  to  progress  until  the  soul 
is  taken  to  heaven. 

'No^Y,  my  dear  friends,  God  has  provided 
a  Savior  for  us,  and  the  preaching  of  the 
Gospel  is  the  means  by  which  we  are  to  be 
made  partakers  of  the  blessings  of  salvation. 
''Faith  cometh  by  hearing,  and  hearing  by  the 
word  of  God.''  Therefore  let  me  exhort  you 
to  attend  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel,  and 
read  the  Bible  with  a  prayerful  heart,  that 
you  may  understand  its  all-important  truths, 
that  you  may  be  profited.  I  have  but  little 
hope  for  a  person  living  in  a  land  of  Bibles, 
and  where  the  Gospel  is  constantly  pro- 
claimed, and  who  yet  hardens  himself  against 
all  means  of  instruction.  TVe  know  that  God 
can  work  without  means,  but  this  is  not  the 
ordinary  way  in  which  he  accomplishes  his 
purposes.  God  has  determined  the  means 
with  the  end  ;  he  has  given  land  to  the  far- 
mer to  till,  and  seed  to  sow,  and  causes  the 
clouds  to  water  the  earth  ;  but  suppose  the 
farmer,  being  a  slothful  man,  disinclined  to 


TO  THE  UNCONVERTED.  167 

labor,  should  reason  with  himself  thus, — I 
know  that  I  can  not  make  the  grain  grow, 
and  I  may  lose  all  my  hard  labor, — and  thus 
he  sits  down,  and  lets  the  season  pass  by. 
Now  what  excuse  could  this  farmer  have  to 
offer,  in  the  time  of  harvest,  while  going  to 
his  neighbors  to  beg  his  bread  ?  His  excuse 
would  amount  to  about  the  same  as  the  poor 
slothful  sinner  would  have  to  offer,  at  the  day 
of  judgment,  after  having  spent  his  whole  life 
in  sin,  having  neglected  every  means  which 
God  had  put  in  his  power  in  order  to  seek 
the  salvation  of  his  soul. 

What  can  the  poor  guilty  sinner  look  for, 
at  that  day  when  God  will  judge  the  world  ? 
The  sowing  season  will  then  be  passed  never 
to  be  recalled,  and  it  will  be  then  too  late  to 
repent.  Every  thing  must  be  done  in  proper 
season.  The  harvest  time  will  be  too  late  for 
sowing.  0  that  the  world  would  lay  this 
matter  to  heart,  that  while  the  seed  time  of 
life  may  last,  they  may  be  led  to  sow  to  the 
Spirit,  so  that  when  the  harvest  may  come, 


168  TO  THE  UNCONVERTED. 

they  may  reap  life  everlasting!  God  has 
sent  his  son  into  the  world  to  save  sinners  by 
laying  down  his  life,  that  he  might  open  a 
fountain  to  cleanse  them  from  sin  and  all  un- 
cleanness,  and  has  given  iis  the  Bible  to  read, 
and  sent  his  servants  to  publish  this  salva- 
tion ;  yet  if  the  sinner  is  not  cleansed  in  that 
fountain,  of  what  avail  can  all  this  be  to  him  ? 
Medicine,  however  efficacious,  can  not  do  a 
sick  man  any  good,  if  it  is  not  applied.  Life 
is  the  time  in  which  the  soul  must  be  stamped 
for  eternity.  If  it  is  there  found  with  a  di- 
vine impress,  it  will  land  in  glory,  but  if  not, 
its  sad  doom  will  be  endless  despair.  Let  me, 
therefore,  exhort  you  to  plead  earnestly  with 
God,  like  the  publican,  that  he  may  have 
mercy  upon  you,  that  you  may  be  prepared 
for  a  better  world.  Read  your  Bible  with 
prayerful  attention,  go  to  the  house  of  God, 
and  hear  the  Gospel  preached,  that  you  may 
receive  instruction,  in  relation  to  yourselves 
as  lost  sinners,  without  hope  in  Christ,  and  the 
great  salvation  published  in  the  Gospel. 


TO  THE  UNCONVERTED.  169 

These  are  the  means  which  God  has  ap- 
pointed, by  which  we  are  to  be  brought  to 
the  knowledge  of  the  truth.  The  work  must 
be  done  now,  it  admits  of  no  delay  ;  the  die 
will  soon  be  cast  that  will  seal  thy  doom  for- 
ever ;  time  that  has  been  misspent,  can  never 
be  recalled.  Our  characters  must  be  stamped 
in  time,  for  eternity.  If  at  death,  our  souls 
are  found  stamped  with  the  divine  impress,  it 
will  be  our  passport  to  the  joys  of  heaven. 
Now  my  dear  friends,  let  me  ask  you  a  seri- 
ous question  ;  have  you  ever  felt  yourselves, 
like  the  returning  prodigal?  Do  you  now 
lament  that  you  have  left  your  father's  house, 
and  wandered  so  far  from  your  plenteous 
home,  and  by  it  ruined  yourself?  Have  you 
gone  so  far  that  you  now  begin  to  feel  that 
sin  is  an  evil  and  bitter  thing  ?  Have  you  be- 
come sickened  with  the  sinful  pleasures  of  the 
world?  Have  they  become  unsatisfying  to 
3"ou,  as  the  husks  that  the  swine  do  feed  upon, 
and  are  you  reduced  to  such  extreme  poverty, 
that  you  are  ready  to  perish  with  hunger  ? 


170  TO  THE  UNCONVERTED. 

Poor  soul,  I  know  how  to  feel  for  you,  for 
I  have  felt  the  same  ;  for  I  was  once  a  poor 
prodigal,  and  wandered  as  far  from  home  as 
you  have  done  ;  but  I  became  so  dissatisfied 
with  my  way  of  living,  I  could  find  nothing 
but  wretchedness  and  poverty,  my  garment 
was  completely  tattered  to  raggedness,  and 
so  filthy  that  I  was  sickened  at  the  sight ; 
never  until  now  had  my  eyes  been  opened,  to 
see  my  hopeless  condition,  f  called  to  mind 
my  father's  house.  I  thought  why  should  I 
stay  here  and  perish,  while  my  father's  house 
abounds  with  plenty  ?  I  came  to  the  resolve 
to  make  the  attempt,  and  set  off  with  little 
hope  of  success,  but  while  I  was  a  great  way 
off,  to  my  astonishment,  I  saw  my  Father 
coming  ;  but  I  can  not  describe  my  feehngs, 
while  thinking  what  a  wicked  and  ungrateful 
son  I  had  been.  0  how  can  I  bear  the  wrath 
of  my  father,  when  he  meets  me  ?  I  saw  him 
running  to  meet  me,  and  to  my  surprise,  in- 
stead of  meeting  a  frown  from  my  father,  I 
met  his  smile,  and  that  with  open  arms ;  my 


TO  THE  UNCONVERTED.  I7l 

filtliy  garments,  sin  and  my  own  righteous- 
ness, which  I  found  to  be  in  a  most  ragged 
condition,  were  now  removed,  and  a  most 
beautiful  white  robe  j)laced  upon  me,  the 
righteousness  of  Christ ;  and  on  entering  my 
father's  house,  all  was  joy  and  gladness,  and 
such  a  feasting  time  I  never  saw  before,  and 
I  have  been  feasting  upon  the  bounty  of  my 
father's  house  ever  since  I  returned  home. 

And  now,  my  brother  prodigal,  I  can  not 
express  the  joy  I  have  felt  ever  since  my  re- 
turn. This  makes  me  so  desirous  that  you 
should  return.  My  Savior  sent  me  to  invite 
you  to  return.  Do  you  say  that  you  feel 
yourself  to  be  too  great  a  sinner  ?  This  can 
be  no  objection.  Indeed,  the  consciousness 
of  being  sinners,  is  what  prepares  us  to  come, 
for  Jesus  came,  "not  to  call  the  righteous  but 
sinners  to  repentance."  It  is  his  blood  that 
cleanses  us  from  all  sin.  Do  you  say  that 
your  garments  are  too  ragged  and  defiled? 
He  has  a  white  robe  prepared  for  you  ;  his 
perfect  righteousness.     This  will  give  you  a 


172  TO  THE  UNCONVERTED. 

title  to  the  heavenly  glory.  Say,  will  you 
come?  The  Father  says  come  ;  the  Savior 
says  come ;  the  Spirit  and  the  Bride  (the 
chm'ch)  say  come.  Say  not  that  you  are  too 
great  a  sinner  to  come.  It  is  true,  we  have 
all  been  very  wicked  in  running  away  from 
our  father's  house,  and  spending  our  precious 
time,  which  to  us  is  worth  more  than  gold, 
and  should  have  been  devoted  to  our  Father's 
service,  together  with  all  our  intellectual  en- 
dowments ;  but  instead  of  appl^dng  them  in 
such  a  useful  and  profitable  way,  we  have 
made  them  subservient  to  the  gratification  of 
our  depraved  inclinations,  and  it  is  well  for  us 
that  our  Father,  instead  of  casting  us  off  for- 
ever, has  sent  his  Spirit  to  enlighten  our 
minds,  to  see  our  wickedness  and  folly,  and 
become  sick  of  our  sinful  ways,  and  to  mourn 
over  them  as  being  an  evil  and  bitter  thing 
that  we  have  gone  so  far  astray.  How  won- 
derful it  is,  that  our  Father,  in  the  midst  of 
deserved  wrath,  has  remembered  mercy.  He 
has  sent  his  Son  to  die  for  us,  his  servants  to 


TO  THE  UNCONVERTED.  173 

preach  the  Gospel  to  us,  and  his  Holy  Spnit 
to  enlighten  ns  ;  therefore  we  say  to  you, 
once  more,  come,  for  all  things  are  now 
ready,   come  tarry  no  longer ! 

0  come  for  Jesus  calls  you,  0  come  without  delay, 
0  why  should  you  still  tarry,  and  make  a  longer  stay  ? 
O  come  and  join  our  party,  we  have  a  feast  of  love  ; 
0  'tis  a  taste  of  heaven,  when  we  shall  feast  above. 

0  come,  the  feast  is  ready,  the  table  now  is  spread, 
0  yes  this  feast  is  furnished,  here  starving  souls  are  fed. 
O  come,  why  should  you  tarry  and  stay  another  day  ? 
0  come,  all  things  are  ready,  how  can  you  stay  away  ? 


CHAPTER  X. 

A   WORD    TO    PARENTS.— RELIGIOUS    INSTRUCTION    OF 
CHILDREN. 

I  HAVE  learned  from  a  long  life,  both  by 
experience  and  observation,  that  the  subject 
of  parental  government  and  instruction  has 
been  much  neglected,  although  it  merits  the 
highest  claims  on  our  attention.  This  neglect, 
I  fear,  has  been  the  fruitful  source  of  the  nu- 
merous calamities  that  have  befallen  the 
young  and  rising  generation.  Alas,  have  we 
not  reason  to  fear  that  many  parents  by  neg- 
lecting the  instruction  of  their  children,  in 
the  true  principles  of  uprightness,  have  fur- 
nished many  prisons  with  inmates,  many  vic- 
tims for  the  scaffold,  and  many  a  victim  for  a 
drunkard's  grave?  But  this  is  too  sickening 
and  heart-rending  to  dwell  long  upon.  The 
cause  and  effect  of  this  sad  picture  is  too  obvi- 
ous to  need  much  comment.  The  remedy  is 
that  which   should   claim  the    attention,  not 


TO    PARENTS.  175 

only  of  a  parent's  ITeart,  but  of  every  heart, 
tender  with  the  feehng  of  humanity.  Many 
a  briUiant  talent  has  been  hid  in  midnight 
darkness,  for  want  of  an  early  culture  of  the 
mind,  in  the  pure  principles  of  integrity. 
There  is  a  greater  responsibility  resting  upon 
|)arents  than  is  commonly  supposed.  Our 
children  come  into  the  world  naked,  helpless, 
and  depraved,  and  at  the  same  time,  possess- 
ing an  intellectual  capacity  capable  of  vast  im- 
provement, with  a  natural  inclination  to  evil. 
Under  these  circumstances,  the  great  Creator 
has  placed  these  little  ones  under  the  guardi- 
anship of  the  parent,  not  merely  to  feed  and 
clothe  them,  but  to  instruct  them.  The  mind 
of  a  child  needs  to  be  cultivated  as  much  as 
a  farm,  in  order  to  its  becoming  productive. 
A  farm,  if  left  uncultivated,  will  yield  noth- 
ing but  what  is  natural  to  the  soil,  such  as 
weedSj  briars,  and  thorns  ;  and  these  are  worse 
than  useless,  for  they  impoverish  the  ground. 
So  it  is  with  the  intellectual  capacity  of 
children.     They  grow  up  with  a  natural  in- 


176  TO    PARENTS. 

clination  to  evil.  Thus  the  young  and  unedu- 
cated mind  becomes  deceived  by  the  flattering 
appearance  of  the  amusements  and  pleasures 
of  the  world. 

A  family  bears  some  resemblance  to  a 
garden  in  which  are  found  some  valuable, 
tender  plants,  which  if  properly  cared  for 
by  cultivation,  would  grow,  bud,  bloom,  and 
thus  make  a  great  display  of  beauty  ;  but 
where  the  gardener  is  slothful,  and  neglects 
his  plants,  the  weeds  will  overgrow  them, 
and  the  consequence  is,  his  plants  wdll  never 
bloom,  but  wither  away  in  obscurity.  So 
with  a  family  of  children,  where  a  parent 
neglects  the  proper  discipline  of  his  chil- 
dren ;  whatever  may  be  the  brilliancy  of 
their  talents,  still  they  have  a  very  poor 
prospect  of  blessing  either  the  world  or  the 
church  with  their  services,  for  they  are  sel- 
dom found,  save  in  the  paths  of  ignorance 
or  vice.  In  bringing  up  a  family  of  chil- 
dren so  as  to  prove  a  blessing  to  them- 
selves and  others,  the  parent  must  exercise 


\ 


TO    PARENTS.  177 

a  control  over  the  passions  of  their  minds,  for 
who  can  not  testify  to  the  truth  of  what 
Solomon  says,  that  ''childhood  and  youth  are 
vanity,''  and  consequently  they  are  not  capa- 
citated to  govern  themselves,  although  they 
are  apt  to  think  quite  differently,  and  in  some 
cases,  to  their  great  cost,  if  not  their  ruin. 

There  would  be  about  as  much  hope  for 
a  number  of  men  sent  out  to  navigate  a 
vessel  to  some  distant  port  who  had  never 
received  the  least  knowledge  of  navigation, 
as  to  send  out  a  family  of  children  into  the 
world  without  instruction  or  restraint ;  and 
even  with  a  little  fortune  at  their  disposal, 
they  would  doubtless  soon  founder  upon  the 
rocks  of  crime  and  dissipation.  There  is  a 
fitness  and  adaptation  in  every  thing  in  na- 
ture. This  exists  in  a  very  eminent  degree 
between  the  parent  and  the  child.  This  has 
been  wisely  ordered  by  the  great  Creator, 
and  consequently  a  great  responsibility  is 
resting  upon  them.  Let  parents  therefore 
take  warning,  for  God  will  hold  them  to  a 


178 


TO    PARENTS. 


strict  account  for  the  manner  in  which  their 
children  are  educated.  It  is  the  duty  of 
parents  to  feed  and  clothe  their  children ; 
however,  this  requires  but  little  comment, 
for  although  they  bring  nothing  into  the 
world  with  them,  yet  they  have  that  within 
themselves,  that  more  than  compensates  for 
all  other  deficiency.  The  parent  at  once 
feels  a  kindling  of  love,  which  recognizes  in 
the  little  living  form,  ''bone  of  his  bone 
and  flesh  of  his  flesh.''  This  natural  aJBfec- 
tion  the  great  Creator  has  made  to  exist  with 
that  little  babe,  the  moment  the  parent's 
eye  is  placed  upon  it.  Love  to  children  has, 
been  placed  in  the  breast  of  the  parent,  as 
a  motive  power  to  action,  for  the  good  of 
his  children.  Hence  we  see  the  parent, 
even  if  he  be  in  low  circumstances,  labor- 
ing hard  to  care  for  his  little  ones,  feeding, 
clothing,  and  protecting  them.  The  rich 
bestow  upon  their  children  more  abundantly, 
all  produced  by  love,  this  propelling  power. 
But  now  comes  on  that  which  for  certain 


TO    PARENTS.  179 

causes,  is  rendered  much  more  difficult  to 
accomplish,  and  surely  not  of  less  importance. 
I  refer  to  the  proper  government  of  chil- 
dren, in  order  to  promote  their  best  interests. 
The  desigQ  of  our  electing  men  to  legislate 
for  us,  is  for  the  good  of  the  community  at 
large.  So  in  families,  our  Creator  has  en- 
acted laws  for  the  government  of  families, 
and  placed  the  parent  at  the  head,  to  en- 
force those  laws  ;  and  we  need  not  hesitate 
in  saying,  woe  to  that  parent  who  neglects 
his  duty  in  this  matter.  There  are  many 
instructions  given  us  in  the  Bible,  and  if  we 
will  not  receive  them,  the  sin  lieth  at  our 
door.  Hear  the  voice  of  God  by  the  Apos- 
tle, "ye  fathers,  provoke  not  your  children 
to  wrath,  but  bring  them  up  in  the  nurture 
and  admonition  of  the  Lord ;"  that  is,  we 
are  to  do  nothing  that  would  be  calculated 
to  excite  their  angry  passions,  but  to  im- 
part such  instructions  as  may  be  the  best 
calculated  to  inspire  their  young  and  tender 
minds    with    the   love    and   practice  of  pure 


180  TO   PARENTS. 

Bible  principles  ;  for  the  Bible  is  the  stand 
to  which  we  are  to  bring  our  moral  and 
religious  principles  to  be  determined.  Alas, 
for  children,  where  parents  have  all  their 
thoughts  and  affections  placed  upon  sublu- 
nary things,  from  which  they  expect  to 
derive  all  their  happiness,  so  that  their  dis- 
cijDlme  is  in  accordance  with  these  views,  and 
meets  with  the  approbation  of  their  children's 
natural  and  depraved  inclination. 

'No^Y  why  is  it  that  parents  should  be  so 
blinded  in  relation  to  this  important  matter  ? 
The  reason  is  obvious,  they  are  blinded  by 
sin.  Solomon  said  ' '  train  up  a  child  in  the 
way  he  should  go,  and  when  he  is  old  he 
will  not  depart  from  it."  Parents  have 
been  warned,  both  from  the  Bible,  and  from 
what  their  own  eyes  have  witnessed,  of  the 
sad  effects  resulting  from  a  neglect  of  a  proper 
management  of  their  children,  especially  while 
they  are  young.  For  a  parent  to  rear  a 
family  of  children,  comprises  one  of  the  most 
important  transactions  of  his  life  ;   for  upon 


TO    PARENTS.  181 

the  proper  or  improper  manner  in  which  this 
act  is  performed  stand  involved  the  most 
serious  consequences  both  to  the  parent  and 
the  children. 

In  order  to  avoid  those  calamities  which 
befall  many  thousands,  correct  discipline  is  re- 
quired. To  deny  that  parents  have  sufficient 
love  for  their  children  to  wish  to  render  them 
happy  would  be  contrary  to  reason,  and 
the  natural  feelings  of  humanity.  The  hap- 
piness of  the  children  is  so  blended  with 
that  of  the  parent,  that  they  can  not  be 
separated.  But  the  great  difficulty  arises 
from  the  darkness  of  a  depraved  mind  which 
has  rendered  it  incapable  of  determining  as 
to  the  objects,  the  best  calculated  to  pro- 
duce happiness.  However,  the  general  con- 
clusion is  that  it  is  to  be  found  in  the 
abundance  of  wealth,  as  though  every  thing 
else  depended  upon  the  possession  of  riches, 
even  heaven  itself.  Hence  it  is,  that  wealth 
has  ascended  the  throne  of  dignity,  and  has 
gained   the    admiration    of    the    world ;     for 


182  TO    PARENTS. 

the  keen  eye  of  the  beholder  perceives  that 
it  opens  a  door  for  the  gratification  of  every 
pleasurable  sensation,  such  as  the  amuse- 
ments, the  luxuries,  and  honors  of  the 
world.  Now  in  order  to  obtain  wealth, 
every  power  of  the  mind  is  brought  to  bear 
upon  this  one  point,  and  often  we  fear,  with- 
out much  regard  to  strict  integrity. 

If  our  halls  of  legislation  could  speak,  what 
a  sad  account  they  would  give  of  the  frauds 
committed  in  violation  of  the  most  solemn 
oaths.  Alas,  how  have  the  mighty  fallen ! 
Tell  it  not  to  our  enemies,  lest  they  point  the 
finger  of  scorn  at  us.  However,  crime  of  this 
character  is  not  confined  to  politicians,  but  it 
has  defiled  the  blood  of  the  nation,  to  a  very 
lamentable  degree.  What  multitudes  are 
making  haste  to  be  rich.  From  whence  has 
this  broad  river  of  crime  its  origin?  The 
Savior  says  that,  ' '  out  of  the  heart  proceed 
evil  thoughts,  murders,  adulteries,  fornication, 
thefts,  false  witness,  blasphemies."  This  is 
the  sad  state  of  the  heart,  left  uncontrolled  by 


TO    PARENTS.  i8o 

some  opposite  influence.  But  are  there  no 
tributary  streams,  that  augment  this  broad 
river  of  crime?  Alas,  we  are  made  sad  at 
the  thought,  that  they  are  more  numerous 
than  we  can  calculate  ;  a  multitude  of  which, 
emanate  from  the  family  circle,  where  the 
cords  of  discipline  have  been  slackened  or 
broken,  through  the  tender  feelings  of  parents, 
to  the  final  ruin  of  their  children  ;  opening 
the  door  for  Sabbath-breaking,  and  attending 
those  places  of  amusement,  which  are  almost 
sure  to  introduce  them  into  company  and 
habits  of  dissipation,  which  will  serve  as  a 
prelude  to  crimes  of  the  most  destructive 
nature. 

Remember  then  that  what  is  done  for  your 
children  must  be  done  in  proper  season.  The 
spring  is  the  time  to  plant  corn,  but  the  fall  is 
the  time  to  gather  for  use.  He  that  neglects 
to  plant  in  season,  can  not  expect  to  gather. 
Let  childhood  and  youth  pass  unimproved, 
and  all  hope  is  blasted.  Let  parents,  there- 
fore, store  the  minds  of  their  children  with 


184  TO    PARENTS. 

both  literary  and  Bible  knowledge.  Be  kind 
to  your  children,  but  let  not  your  tender  feel- 
ings control  you,  so  far  as  to  indulge  them  to 
their  injury.  Let  discretion  govern,  and  your 
word  be  their  law,  but  let  your  word  be  in 
accordance  w^ith  the  Bible.  Tender  feeling  in 
parents  for  their  children  is  natural  and  com- 
mendable, but  danger  is  always  nigh  when  it 
is  extended  beyond  due  bounds.  Alas,  how 
many  parents  have  had  their  eyes  open  to  the 
truth  of  this,  wdien  too  late  to  restore  the 
victims,  and  have  had  to  pass  to  the  grave 
w^ith  the  sad  reflection,  that  by  their  indul- 
gence, they  had  brought  to  ruin,  the  objects 
they  so  much  loved. 

Do  I  hear  a  broken-hearted  parent  exclaim- 
ing, "  0  my  sons,  my  sons  !  Could  I  recall  the 
days  when  my  sons  were  boys,  and  fed  at  my 
table,  how  would  I  instruct  them  to  pursue 
the  path  of  virtue !  Their  seat  in  the  house 
of  God  should  not  be  vacated.  All  my  en- 
ergy and  influence  should  be  devoted  to  bring 
them  under  Bible  instruction,  so  as  to  restrain 


TO    PARENTS.  185 

them  from  Sabbath-breaking  and  from  attend- 
ing-those  amusements  which  lead  to  vice  and 
dissipation.  But  alas  !  the  die  is  cast.  Time, 
that  might  have  been  improved,  is  now  lost 
forever.  My  sons  are  now  swallowed  up  in  the 
whirlpool  of  destruction.  My-  tender  feelings 
led  to  indulgence,  -and  this  proved  their  ruin. 
Two  have  passed  from  the  tippling-house  to 
the  drunkard's  grave,  and  one  is  now  shut  up 
within  the  massive  gates  of  the  penitentiary. 
0  ye  parents,  is  it  nothing  to  you?  Was 
there  ever  sorrow  like  unto  my  sorrow, 
wherewith  I  am  afflicted,  for  my  contempt  of, 
the  counsel  of  heaven  ?'' 

Let  parents  take  warning.  Let  them  bring 
up  their  children  to  receive  Bible  instruction, 
to  attend  Sunday-school,  and  the  house  of 
God.  By  this  means  they  will  be  restrained 
from  Sabbath-breaking  and  from  bad  com- 
pany. Parents,  teach  your  children  integrity, 
not  from  compulsion,  but  from  the  love  of 
virtue.  Teach  them  a  tender  feeling  of  sym- 
pathy for  the  afflicted,  for  although  their  cir- 


186  TO    PARENTS. 

cumstances  in  life  may  be  far  more  comfort- 
able than  many  around  them,  yet  we  know 
not  what  a  clay  may  brmg  forth.  We  may 
need  to-morrow  the  same  act  of  kindness  and 
sympathy  we  extend  to  others  to-day.  Our 
great  Creator  has  so  arranged  matters  in  the 
government  of  his  providence,  that  we  are  all 
dependent  upon  each  other.  Here  the  rich 
and  the  poor  meet  together. 

Let  parents  also  teach  their  children  candor 
in  all  their  dealings  with  men  in  the  business 
of  life,  that  they  may  not  degrade  themselves, 
by  the  practice  of  those  little  cunning  tricks 
so  often  practiced  by  sharpers.  Parents 
should  also  teach  their  children  economy  and 
industry  in  whatever  vocation  they  may  be 
placed,  .for  slothfulness  and  waste  lead  to 
poverty,  and  will  clothe  a  man  with  rags. 
Give  your  children  a  good  plain  education,  if 
nothing  more,  for  deprived  of  this  they  lose  half 
the  enjoyment  of  life.  Xo  parent  is  so  poor 
that  he  can  not  do  this,  for  at  this  day,  it  can 
be  had  as  cheap  as  the  Bible,  being  without 


TO    PARENTS.  187 

money  and  without  price  ;   so  that  should  a 
parent  neglect  this  duty  he  is  censurable. 

Teach  your  children  to  be  cleanly,  for 
this  will  add  to  health  and  comfort.  How- 
ever expressive  of  poverty,  the  appearance  of 
a  house  or  a  garment  may  be,  yet  if  neat  and 
clean,  it  will  be  honored  with  attention. 
Warn  your  sons  against  foppishness  and 
haughtiness  ;  for  this  denotes  a  want  of  good 
breeding,  if  not  of  good  sense,  and  will  be 
sure  to  bring  down  contempt  upon  them. 
Teach  your  daughters  gentleness  of  speech, 
sweetness  of  temper,  and  neatness  in  dress. 
Restrain  your  children  from  going  to  those 
schools  of  vice,  which  afford  such  a  pleasura- 
ble sensation  to  the  young  mind,  but  whose 
sting  is  as  deadly  as  that  of  the  bite  of 
the  most  poisonous  serpent ;  such  as  the 
theatre,  the  ball-room,  the  circus,  and  the 
tippling-house.  Some  of  these  places,  if  not 
all,  have  been  the  ruin  of  multitudes  of  the 
young,  in  their  unguarded  moments. 

Finally,  endeavor,  above  all,    to  bring  up 


188  TO    PARENTS. 

your  children  in  the  nurture  and  admonition 
of  the  Lord  ;  train  them  up  in  the  way  they 
should  go,  and  then  you  may  reasonably  ex- 
pect, in  accordance  with  the  words  of  Solo- 
mon, the  wisest  of  men,  that  ' '  when  they  are 
old,  they  will  not  depart  from  it.'' 

"  See,  Israel's  gentle  Shepherd  stands 
With  all  engaging  charms  ; 
Hark  !  how  he  calls  the  tender  lambs, 
And  folds  them  in  his  arms ! 

We  bring  them,  Lord,  by  fervent  prayer, 

And  yield  them  up  to  thee  ; 
With  humble  trust  that  we  are  thine, 

Thine  let  our  offspring  be." 


CHAPTER    XI. 

A  CLOSING  WORD  TO  MY  MINISTERING  BRETHREN. 

As  I  am  about  closing  this  little  book,  I 
feel  a  strong  inclination  to  address  a  few 
lines  to  my  brethren  in  the  ministry ;  al- 
though at  the  same  time,  I  must  confess 
that  I  feel  a  considerable  degree  of  delicacy 
in  attempting  to  exhort  them  to  a  more  per- 
severing energy  in  the  way  of  duty,  or  in 
communicating  instruction  in  relation  to  that 
duty,  as  they  themselves  profess  to  be 
teachers  ;  and  especially  as  many  of  them 
far  excel  me,  both  in  natural  and  acquired 
talents. 

However,  my  advanced  age  and  the  great 
length  of  time  I  have  been  in  the  ministry, 
may  serve  as  an  apology.  And  more  than 
this,  our  holy  religion  teaches  us  not  to 
seek  honor  one  of  another,  but  to  seek 
to  promote  each  other's  happiness  and  pros- 


190  TO  MINISTERS. 

perity,  in  the  cause  of  Christ.  Whether 
my  feeble  efforts  may  add  any  thing  in  ac- 
compUshing  this  object^  I  can  not  say.  A 
futm^e  day  will  determine  what  we  have 
done,  and  what  we  have  left  undone. 

Dear  brethren,  we  have  all  professed  to 
have  been  called  in  one  hope  of  our  call- 
ing, and  to  have  received  a  commission  from 
the  highest  authority  in  heaven,  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  in  whom  dwelleth  all  the  ful- 
ness of  the  Godhead  bodily.  In  this  lega- 
tion, we  have  had  committed  to  our  trust  one 
of  the  most  wonderful  embassies  that  ever 
was  committed  to  mortal  man.  And  we 
now  appear  as  Embassadors  of  Christ,  to 
deliver  our  message  to  a  guilty  and  rebel- 
lious world,  and  to  explain  its  contents,  as 
far  as  possible  to  their  imderstanding ;  for 
it  is  all-important  that  they  should  hear  and 
believe,  in  order  to  salvation.  We  are  well 
aware  as  to  what  we  preach,  that  it  is  the 
Gospel.  Thus  we  hear  it  explained  by 
Christ  himself  in   the   commission,  when  he 


TO  MINISTERS.  191 

sent  his  Apostles  forth,  he  said,  "  Go  ye 
into  all  the  world,  and  preach  the  Gospel 
to  erery  creature."  Now  that  the  Savior 
made  use  of  the  term  in  its  mere  abstract 
meaning,  can  not  with  any  degree  of  pro- 
priety be  admitted.  In  the  preaching  of 
both  Christ  and  the  Apostles  the  whole  mat- 
ter is  fully  explained,  as  embracing  all  the 
doctrines  of  grace,  relating  to  the  beginning, 
progression,  and  completion  of  the  salvation 
of  all  who  will  finally  meet  in  heaven. 

The  preaching  of  the  cross  lays  the  foun- 
dation for  the  whole  fabric  of  Gospel  truth 
to  rest  upon.  And  that  sermon  that  has 
not  a  relative  connection  with  this  founda- 
tion will  never  be  owned  of  God.  Brethren, 
in  going  to  the  pulpit,  we  should  never 
hide  the  cross  behind  us,  lest-  we  forget  it 
and  preach  ourselves ;  but  let  it  have  a 
prominent  plaae  in  front  of  the  pulpit,  while 
we  unfurl  its  blood-stained  banner  before 
the  people,  pointing  to  it  as  the  only  hope 
of  a  dying  world.     Brethren,  we  know  that 


192  TO  MINISTERS. 

no  trust  could  have  been  committed  to  us 
of  equal  importance,  and  that  could  have 
involved  us  in  greater  responsibility,  so  that 
if  we  misconstrue  the  message  which  has 
been  committed  to  us,  to  be  delivered  in 
faithfulness  to  the  people,  whatever  evil 
consequences  may  arise,  God  will  require  at 
our  hands.  Therefore  it  becomes  us  to  be 
cautious  how  w^e  speak  and  act  in  relation 
to  this  matter. 

There  is  a  very  great  responsibility  rest- 
ing upon  the  physician  while  administering  to 
a  sick  man,  for  through  his  ignorance  or 
carelessness,  the  sick  man's  life  may  be  for- 
feited; which  no  doubt  has  been  in  a  vast 
number  of  cases ;  but  what  is  the  life  of 
the  body,  compared  with  that  of  the  soul? 
If  they  who  turn  many  to  righteousness 
shall  shine  as  the  stars  of  heaven,  forever 
and  ever,  what  will  be  the  'doom  of  those 
who  are  preaching  "  peace,  peace,  to  the 
wicked,''  when  God  has  said  that  there  is 
no  peace  ?     However,  brethren,  we  are  per- 


TO  MINISTERS.  193 

suaded  better  things  of  you.  We  believe 
that  you  have  been  called  with  a  lieavenly 
calling,  and  thus  God  hath  counted  you  faith- 
ful, putting  you  into  the  ministry.  Whatever 
may  have  been  your  previous  character,  you 
can  now  say,  ''unto  me  who  am  less  than  the 
least  of  all  saints,  is  this  grace  given,  that 
I  should  preach  among  the  Grentiles  the 
unsearchable  riches  of  Christ."  And  the 
love  of  Christ  is  the  motive  power,  that 
constrains  you  to  go  forth  upon  this  mo- 
mentous work  of  preaching  Christ  and  him 
crucified,  to  dying,  perishing  sinners.  Are 
you  a  pastor  of  a  church?  You  have  been 
listening  with  attention  to  your  duty,  that 
you  are  to  "preach  the  word,  to  be  instant 
in  season  and  out  of  season,  reprove,  rebuke, 
exhort,  with  all  long  suffering  and  doctrine." 
Paul  found  it  necessary  on  some  occasions, 
to  reprove  his  brethren  for  their  having  be- 
come worldly-minded  and  for  want  of  spirit- 
uality, as  there  were  at  times  found  among 
them    envyings,    strife,    and   divisions.     This 


194  TO  MINISTERS. 

was  heart-rending  to  him,  and  as  much  so  to 
every  pastor  of  a  church,  where  this  may  be 
found  to  be  the  case,  especially  when  they 
originate  from  such  a  triflmg  affair  as  the 
Apostle  found  to  be  the  case,  on  one  occasion, 
where  a  dispute  took  place  about  ministers, 
a  thing  although  seeming  so  trifling,  yet  at 
the  same  time,  very  sinful  and  disgraceful  to 
the  cause  of  religion. 

Pastors  and  people,  preachers  and  laymen, 
are  all  members  of  one  body,  the  church, 
and  all  have  their  separate  work  to  per- 
form, and  every  one  is  to  be  esteemed  for 
his  work's  sake.  ''Ye  are  God's  husbandry," 
and  ministers  are  his  servants  to  cultivate 
the  soil  of  your  hearts.  One  plants,  and 
another  waters,  but  it  is  God  that  must 
give  the  increase  ;  so  that  if  any  man  wishes 
to  glory,  let  him  glory  in  the  Lord.  The 
Apostle  continues  his  remarks,  and  in  or- 
der to  make  them  more  interesting  and  hn- 
pressive,  he  changes  the  figure  and  com- 
pares  the    church    to   a   building,    "Ye    are 


TO  MINISTERS.  195 

God's  building,"  for  says  he,  "know  ye  not 
that  ye  are  the  temple  of  God?"  The 
grace  of  God  had  made  of  him  a  wise  mas- 
ter-builder, and  now  he  lays  the  foundation, 
and  administers  a  caution  to  his  brethren 
in  the  ministry,  to  take  heed  how  they 
build  thereupon,  and  tells  them  that  Christ 
is  the  only  foundation  that  ever  has  been, 
or  can  be  laid,  upon  which  this  glorious 
building  is  being  erected.  Now  brethren, 
such  materials  as  men,  in  their  natural  state 
of  sin,  should  never  have  a  place  in  this 
building,  here  compared  to  ''wood,  hay, 
and  stubble,"  until  they  are  regenerated  and 
made  new  creatures  in  Christ  Jesus  ;  being 
made  ''lively  stones,  to  build  up  a  spiritual 
house,  to  offer  up  spiritual  sacrifice,  accept- 
able to  God."  These  lively  stones  are  com- 
pared to  "gold,  silver,  and  precious  stones," 
on  account  of  that  new  nature  which  they 
received,  when  born  of  the  Spirit. 

JS'ow   brethren,  our  Master   has   made    us 
builders    of  this   magnificent   temple  of   the 


196  TO  MINISTERS. 

Lord  ;  let  us  be  cautious  what  kind  of  ma- 
terials we  place  in  this  building;  for  God 
himself  will  try  every  man's  work  ;  if  those 
persons  whom  we  have  been  instrumental 
of  bringing  into  the  church,  can  not  give 
a  reason  of  the  hope  within  them,  our 
work  will  be  lost.  They  will  not  appear  as 
stars  in  the  crown  of  our  rejoicing  at  the 
last  day ;  for  if  they  are  not  consumed  with 
the  lustful  passions  of  their  own  wicked 
hearts,  and  thus  lead  an  immoral  life,  and 
be  cast  out  of  the  church,  and  left  to  their 
own  destruction,  yet  they  will  be  burned 
up  among  the  tares  to  be  burned,  at  the 
day  of  judgment.  The  poor  laborious  builder 
loses  all  his  toil,  but  "he  himself  shall  be 
saved  so  as  by  fire"    [fiery  trials]. 

Ministers  should  well  understand  their 
message,  and  the  Bible  is  our  only  stand- 
ard by  which  we  can  test  the  truth  we 
preach.  Let  us  search  diligently  that  we 
may  come  to  a  perfect  knowledge  of  our 
Master's  will  and  sacrifice    every  other  con- 


TO  MINISTERS.  197 

sideration  that  may  stand  in  tlie  way  of 
duty.  Let  us  try  to  follow  the  example  of 
.our  blessed  Lord  wdio  was  meek  and  lowdy 
of  heart  going  about  doing  good  both  to 
the  bodies  and  souls  of  men. 

If  we  wish  to  be  instrumental  in  the 
conversion  of  sinners,  we  must  feel  deeply 
concerned  for  their  salvation,  and  plead 
earnestly  with  God ;  for  the  residue  of  -the 
Spirit  is  with  him.  Let  this  motto  be  writ- 
ten on  our  banner,  "through  the  cross  of 
Christ,  we  conquer."  Here  lies  our  only 
hope  of  success.  Our  object  of  preaching, 
is  to  enlighten  the  minds  of  our  hearers. 
However,  there  is  a  way  of  preaching  truth, 
which  leaves  the  mind  more  hardened  and 
beclouded  than  at  the  commencement.  For 
instance,  should  we  make  use  of  harsh  lan- 
guage, calculated  to  irritate  and  rouse  tjie 
angry  passions  of  our  hearers,  our  influence 
at  once  ceases  to  control  the  mind,  and  forms 
a  most  powerful  barrier  against  the  most 
forcible  arguments  that  we  can  make  use  of. 


198  TO  MINISTERS. 

On  the  other  hand,  by  makmg  use  of  soft 
and  winning  language,  we  gain  a  free  ac- 
cess to  their  feelings,  and  our  arguments 
meet  with  a  more  favorable  reception  and 
candid  reflection  ;  so  that  a  sympathetic  feel- 
ing for  our  hearers,  will  promise  much  to 
our  hope  of  usefulness.  The  art  of  rhet- 
oric has  a  wonderful  power  to  captivate 
and  control  the  feelings  of  the  heart.  This 
science  we  have  often  heard  displayed  by 
lawyers  in  our  criminal  courts,  to  that  de- 
gree that  not  only  the  audience,  but  the 
judge  and  jury  were  melted  into  tears,  so 
that  the  jury  were  almost  ready  to  give  their 
verdict  of  acquittal.  However,  when  the  law- 
yer on  the  opposite  side  of  the  question 
makes  an  equal  display  of  oratory,  the  two 
extremes  are  made  to  appear,  when  the 
mind  is  brought  to  a  better  state  of  capa- 
bility to  judge  righteously.  However  excel- 
lent this  science  may  be,  when  properly 
made  use  of,  yet  when  the  object  is  to 
pervert    truth,    it    becomes   unworthy    of    a 


TO  MINISTERS.  199 

servant  of  Christ,  or  of  a  place  in  the 
pulpit. 

Plain  language  and  plain  truth,  will  bet- 
ter suit  the  wants  of  the  people  ;  when 
truth  can  be  brought  to  bear  upon  the 
mind.  This  is  needed  in  order  to  enlighten 
the  understanding.  Never  is  a  servant  of 
Christ  better  prepared  for  the  pulpit  servi- 
ces, than  when  he  colnes  fi^om  his  knees 
w^here  he  has  been  offering  up  strong  cries 
and  tears,  for  a  blessing  upon  his  hearers, 
and  at  the  same  time  having  his  heart  and 
lips  touched,  as  with  a  live  coal  from  the 
altar  of  God.  In  this  case,  his  tongue  will 
be  made  as  the  pen  of  a  ready  writer,  and 
the  hearers  must  feel  the  effects  of  such 
preaching. 

We  should  take  our  Master  for  our  ex- 
ampler,  in  our  preaching,  and  in  all  the  walks 
of  life*;  embracing  every  opportunity  of  doing 
good,  both  to  the  bodies  and  souls  of  men, 
and  making  use  of  the  daily  occurrences, 
as  we  pass  along.     See  how  the  Savior  im- 


200  TO  MINISTERS. 

proves  the  occasion  of  his  meeting  the  wo- 
man of  Samaria  at  Jacob's  well.  He  found 
her  an  infidel,  and  considering  her  moral  char- 
acter, not  a  very  hopeful  subject  to  receive 
religious  instruction ;  yet  in  the  course  of 
his  conversation  with  her,  he  so  simplified 
the  nature  of  divine  grace,  by  comparing  it 
to  the  water  about  which  they  were  con- 
versing, that  before'  she  was  aware,  her 
mind  became  so  much  enlightened,  that  she 
seemingly  forgot  the  object  for  which  she 
came  ;  for  she  left  her  water-pot,  and  went 
into  the  city,  no  doubt  in  great  haste,  to 
notify  her  neighbors,  that  they  might  come 
and  partake  of  the  blessings  of  salvation,  of 
which  salvation  they  not  only  heard  from 
his  lips,  but  on  approaching  Christ,  were 
made  the  happy  participants  of  the  same 
blessings,  in  their  own  souls. 

Let  us  now  pass  to  consider  the  most  use- 
ful mode  of  preaching.  We  should  have  our 
sermons  well  digested  before  we  deliver 
them   to    the    people  ;   for   our    Master    will 


TO  MINISTERS, 


201 


hold  us  accountable  for  any  deviation  from 
pure  Bible  truth.  This  is  too  obvious  to 
need  comment,  for  we  stand  between  God 
and  the  jDcople.  We  must  study  the  Bible 
well,  that  we  may  receive  our  message 
from  the  mouth  of  God.  The  writing  of 
sermons  is  commendable,  where  it  is  prac- 
ticable. This  will  serve  to  improve  the  mind 
greatly.  When  this  is  done,  it  is  best  to 
leave  the  manuscript  in  our  studies,  until 
our  retm^n  from  delivering  our  message  to 
the  people.  For  if  we  allow  it  to  accom- 
pany us  to  the  pulpit,  it  will  soon  assume 
the  power  of  habit,  which  will  bind  us  with 
fetters,  from  which  we  can  not  easily  extri- 
cate ourselves.  I  have  thought  that  it 
would  be  somewhat  difficult  for  us  fully  to 
estimate  the  disadvantages  to  the  speaker  as 
well  as  to  the  hearers  of  being  confined  to 
the  shackles  of  written  ideas,  and  thus  bar 
the  door  against  those  that  might  present 
themselves  in  the  pulpit,  although  perhaps 
far    more    exciting    and    illustrative    to    the 


202  TO  MINISTERS. 

mind  of  the  hearer.  As  to  a  preacher  hav- 
ing the  main  heads  of  his  discourse  before 
him  to  refer  to,  as  a  mere  outhne,  leaving 
the  mind  free  to  fill  up  the  space  unoccu- 
pied ;  against  this  no  one  can  object. 

Again  I  would  ask  the  question,  does  not 
a  graceful  action  in  the  speaker,  give  en- 
ergy to  the  words  he  may  utter  ?  This  will 
receive  no  denial.  Again,  I  would  ask,  have 
we  never  discovered  a  difference  between  the 
graceful  action  of  a  speaker  who  reads  his 
sermons,  and  the  one  who  delivers  them  in 
an  extemporary  form  ?  We  must  reply  in 
the  aflGirmative  ;  for  while  the  former  has  the 
action  of  his  hands  and  eyes  confined  to  his 
manuscript,  and  consequently  deprives  the 
whole  body  of  that  natural  action  which  gives 
force  to  the  words,  and  produces  an  awkward 
and  unnatural  action.  A  graceful  action  in 
the  pulpit  not  cftily  gives  force  to  the  words 
of  the  speaker,  but  will  be  looked  upon  as 
ornamental  in  a  grave  and  pious  preacher. 
The  two  last  qualifications,  gravity  and  piety, 


TO  MINISTERS.  203 

are  indispensable,  as  every  subject  furnished 
by  the  Bible  is  of  this  character,  and  will  not 
admit  of  any  light  or  trifling  language  or  re- 
marks, calculated  to  excite  laughter,  for  such 
merriment  does  not  accord  with  the  solemni- 
ties of  the  house  of  God.  Such  preaching 
may  amuse  that  class  of  hearers  who  are 
noted  for  their  want  of  solidity  of  mind,  but 
not  the  wise  and  intelligent.  I  would  further 
remark,  that  sermons  made  up  of  anecdotes, 
especially,  when  many  of  them  are  of  a 
humorous  character,  as  is  often  the  case  with 
certain  eccentric  preachers,  are  not  worthy 
of  the  pulpit ;  yet  suitable  anecdotes  may 
occasionally  be  introduced  to  some  good  pur- 
pose, and  especially  if  they  are  of  a  very 
striking  character,  and  calculated  to  arouse 
the  feehngs  of  the  hearers,  and  thus  prepare 
the  mind  to  receive  a  more  serious  impres- 
sion. Figures  drawn  from  nature,  when 
properly  selected,  in  reference  to  the  sub- 
ject under  consideration,   often  become  very 


204 


TO  MINISTERS. 


illustrative,  and  have  a  happy  effect  upon  the 
minds  of  the  hearers. 

After  all,  every  thing  depends  upon  the 
influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  crown  our 
efforts.  This  must  always  be  borne  in  mind 
by  a  servant  of  Christ.  We  may  as  well  ex- 
clude the  work  of  Christ  from  the  salvation 
of  a  sinner,  as  the  work  of  the  Spirit,  for  no 
sinner  can  ever  be  saved  with  either  sepa- 
rately. Christ  by  his  sufferings  and  death 
has  paid  the  redemption  price,  but  the  Spirit 
must  unlock  the  prison  doors,  to  let  the  cap- 
tive go  free.  Thus  we  see  that  salvation  is 
all  of  free  grace,  and  ' '  not  of  works,  lest  any 
man  should  boast."  The  grace  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  be  with  you  all !     Amen. 


THE    END. 


DATE  DUE 

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